LRN AM Newscall January 19

John Bel Edwards wants to give litter the boot. David Grubb has more on how he plans to clean up Louisiana…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m David Grubb.”

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Among some of the bills, legislators have filed for the 2022 regular session is one pertaining to homeowners’ associations. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Another blast of cold winter weather is coming our way. Is there snow, sleet or freezing rain in our future? Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on all Louisianans to help beautify the state. Tuesday the Governor announced the creation of his Task Force on Statewide Litter Abatement and Beautification but says it will take all of us to make a difference…

Cut 4 (05) “…to play.” 

Governor Edwards believes that preserving the state’s natural beauty and resources is vital to a thriving Louisiana…

Cut 5 (14) “…call home.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, whose office will oversee the Task Force, sees litter as not just a quality of life issue, but an economic development one as well…

Cut 6 (14) “…our economy.”

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We’ve all heard of or might have even experienced a situation in which a homeowners association enforces its rules with one resident and not another leaving the homeowner with few options. Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis is filing legislation setting limits on an HOA’s authority.

Cut 7 (11) “…very important.”

St. Tammany Parish, which is in Hollis’ district, has one of the highest per-capita rates of residents living within an HOA-managed community in the state. Hollis found himself in a situation with his HOA when he wanted to erect a privacy fence to protect his children from a neighbor’s webcam.

Hollis says he’s heard numerous stories from residents in his district that felt their legitimate concerns were ignored by an HOA and yet other less serious infractions were enforced. Hollis acknowledges the bill can’t remedy every situation with an HOA…

Cut 8 (11) “…constitutional rights.”

And while Hollis acknowledges not all HOAs covenants are bad some associations practice selective enforcement. Hollis says his bill would restrict an HOA from the overreach of taking away your right to protect your property and family.

Cut 9 (11)  “…particular family.”

Hollis says it’s also likely that he will file a companion bill that affords property owners the ability to opt out of existing HOAs.

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Get ready for another blast of cold, wintery weather across Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Wednesday starts fairly mild, with sunshine and temperatures reaching into the 60’s and lower 70’s, but then…:

Cut 10 (12) “…at least a possibility.”

Keim says a cold front moves through later this evening and overnight, bringing a chance of possible winter precipitation to the I-20 corridor in the late-night hours…:

Cut  11 (10)  “…pretty chilly day.”  

Keim says the approaching cold front is expected to stall offshore in the Gulf, setting up the chance of some potentially hazardous winter precipitation for Thursday night and into Friday morning…:

Cut 12 (10) “…up through Alexandria.”

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The Biden Administration’s Website to order free at-home COVID tests is officially open at COVIDtests.gov. There’s been a huge demand for home tests with Omicron and they are extremely difficult to locate. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Genetics Dr. Lucio Miele says better access to home tests is vital.

Cut 13 (08) “…limited worldwide.”

A PCR test is more accurate at detecting COVID, results take days because they are sent off to a lab.

Miele says you should only use a home test if you have symptoms and advises if you test negative to retest again in a few days because the rapid test has a high false-negative rate.

Cut 14 (07)  “…on these tests.”

The free tests sent via COVIDtests.gov are initially limited to four tests per household but you can also be reimbursed by your health insurance provider now, up to eight at-home tests per month, per insured individual.

Miele says because there is a shortage across the globe for tests you should reserve home tests for when you need an answer and not test for the sake of testing.

Cut 15 (08)  “…is critical.”

To order the tests online you need to enter your name, address and email to receive tracking information. Tests will ship in seven to 12 days.

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The 11th-ranked LSU Tigers will face Alabama on Wednesday night, trying to bounce back from a tough loss to Arkansas. While defense has been the team’s calling card so far this season, Will Wade is looking for his stagnant offense to execute a lot better against the Tide.

Cut  16 (20) “…over again.”

One player that has to get back on track is Tari Eason. The Tigers’ leading scorer this season hasn’t made his presence felt as of late. Wade says it’s time for that to change.

Cut 17 (22) “ …down there.” 

Wade says that the Tigers will have to utilize their depth to avoid the fatigue that has plagued them during late-game situations.

Cut 18 (14) “ …need to.” 

5:30 LRN Newscast Jan 17

The family of a Slidell woman, believed to have been decapitated in New Orleans, demands the suspect in the crime be denied bail. Julia Dardar’s dismembered body was found in a freezer at the home of local artist Benjamin Beale. He’s has been charged in her death. Julia’s estranged husband Micah Dardar this morning…:

CUT 09(06)      “…demented and demonic.”

Beal’s bond HAS been set, at $1.4-million. He is still in jail.

The National Weather Service says there’s the possibility of a wintry mix later this week. A strong cold front arrives overnight; bringing the potential for strong storms late Wednesday in north Louisiana. Meteorologist Kevin Owens says behind the front is very cold air and once the temperature gets close to the freezing mark, freezing rain is possible…:

CUT 12(11)      “…more information.”

Owens says tomorrow will start off as a mild day and then some of the coldest weather of the winter will arrive.

 

Physicians advise, if you are experiencing COVID symptoms, to assume you have the virus and stay home. It might not be COVID but Dr. Lucio Miele, Chair of the Department of Genetics at LSU Health New Orleans says the PCR test is more accurate, but it takes several days to receive results. He says having both speed and sensitivity is a difficult combination in a test…:

CUT 04(08)      “…not possible.”

You can get a FREE package of four at-home COVID tests by going online to “covidtests.gov”

The state Health Department reports just over 29-thousand new case of coronavirus; the majority of them are the Omicron variant. Almost 2200 are in hospitals right now. Of those, about 73-percent have not been fully vaccinated.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a double murder in Metairie. JPSO spokesman Glen Boyd says the male victims were shot to death. They were found by a friend Monday night. An investigation is underway.

4:45 LRN Sportscast January 18

Louisiana Tech scored a big win on the recruiting trail after four-star running back De’Anthony Gatson gave his verbal commitment to the Bulldogs. Gatson is rated as the 17th-best runner in the country after compiling more than fifty-six hundred yards and 83 TDs during his high school career.

Meanwhile, LSU continues to replenish its ranks. The Tigers have announced that Missouri defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo and East Tennessee State offensive lineman Tre’Mond Shorts will be joining the program, bringing the number of incoming transfers to eleven.

Shorts has five years of experience and was one of the most coveted players available in the portal. Wingo, a former three-star recruit, had 27 tackles and a sack as a freshman at Mizzou.

On the diamond, LSU enters the DI Baseball preseason top-25 ranked eighth in the nation. The Tigers are one of six SEC teams in the top ten. LSU opens its first season under new coach Jay Johnson on February 18 at Alex Box Stadium.

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The LSU men’s hoops squad has lost its offensive rhythm as of late, as the Tigers have averaged just 61 points over their last two games. Coach Will Wade says his team has to get back to playing with purpose when they have the ball.

Cut 16 (20) …”over again.”

The thirteenth-ranked Tigers visit Bama tomorrow.

The LSU women’s basketball team has moved up to eleventh in the latest AP rankings after wins over Missouri and Vanderbilt. This is the highest they’ve been ranked since the Tigers were number five on December 20, 2009. With 17 wins, the Tigers have almost doubled their win total from a season ago.

And the NFL has completed the opening round of the playoffs after the Rams defeated the Cardinals 34-11 Monday night.

Former LSU standout Odell Beckham Jr had four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. He also completed a 40-yard pass in the win.

4:30 LRN Newscast Jan 17

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Gary Chambers, who is challenging Republican John Kennedy, releases a campaign ad that shows him smoking marijuana. Chambers says the goal of the ad is to destigmatize the drug and support legalization and decriminalization…:

CUT 06  (12)        “…just like me.”

Advocate reporter Tyler Bridges, who covers Senate races, says he’s never seen or heard of a candidate openly smoking weed in a campaign ad. Chambers is joined in challenging Kennedy by Bunkie Democrat Luke Mixon.

A 14-year-old girl in Franklin is under arrest; accused of making a bomb threat to the town’s junior and senior high schools. Police says the girl – whose name is withheld because she is a minor – faces charges of terrorizing and communicating false information of a planned bombing on a school.

Louisiana has surpassed one-million positive cases of COVID since the pandemic began in 2020. A little over 15-thousand have died during that time.

 

The estranged husband of a Slidell woman, whose dismembered body was found at a home in New Orleans’ 9th Ward, is demanding the suspect be held without bond. Julia Dardar’s husband Micah says his wife suffered from addiction and mental health issues, and he knew she was hanging around suspect Benjamin Beale…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…too little, too late.”

Beale faces murder and obstruction of justice charges. Micah Dardar wants Beale denied bond, because he considers him a flight risk.

A private school in Clinton, in East Feliciana Parish, is under fire for changing Martin Luther King Day to “Great American Heroes Day” on its school calendar. After a spate of complaints and MANY negative social media posts, the Silliman Institute says it will ”review the manner in which we celebrate this day at our next Board of Directors’ Meeting, and are prepared to make necessary changes as we move forward.”

3:30 LRN Newscast Jan 17

The estranged husband of a Slidell woman who was dismembered and her body stuffed in a freezer is calling on the justice system to hold the accused killer without bail. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 02(27)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

Faced with a severe shortage of substitute teachers, Caddo Parish schools are asking parents to step and take on that role. The lack of available instructors is caused largely by the COVID pandemic, but also by a general shortage of available help. Caddo parents who want to help are urged to contact the school system.

 

A Baton Rouge Fire Department arson investigator shot a naked, unarmed man who was trying to break into his FDBR vehicle – which had a gun inside. The investigator says, if not for the gun inside, he’d not have used force to stop the man. Why the man was trying to get into the vehicle … and why he was nude … are matters for the investigation.

Physicians say, if you are experiencing COVID symptoms to assume you have the virus and stay home. It might not be COVID but Dr. Lucio Miele (MEE-lay), with LSU Health New Orleans, says if you test negative with a home test, you’re not out of the woods just yet…:

CUT 03(12)      “…a bad idea.”

Miele says the PCR test is more accurate, but it takes several days to receive results. To order a package of four at-home tests, go online to “COVIDtests.gov.”

LRN PM newscall January 18

The website to order your free at-home coronavirus tests, at COVIDtests-dot-gov is now live. Brooke Thorington has more from a physician on the reliability of a home test.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The estranged husband of a Slidell woman who was dismembered and her body parts kept in a freezer is calling on the justice system to keep the accused killer behind bars on no bail. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (27)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Physicians advise if you are experiencing COVID symptoms to assume you have the virus and stay home. It might not be COVID but Dr. Lucio Miele, Chair of the Department of Genetics at LSU Health New Orleans says if you test negative with a home test, you’re not out of the woods just yet.

Cut 3 (12) “…bad idea.”

Because you are more likely to get a false negative with a home rapid test, it’s best to test again a few days later. Miele says the PCR test is more accurate, but it takes several days to receive results. He says having both speed and sensitivity is a difficult combination in a test.

Cut 4 (08) “…not possible.”

Miele says if you’ve been exposed you should wait five days to be tested. If you have a PCR test that’s negative in that time frame but still have symptoms you might want to be tested for other things like the flu. If you test negative with a rapid test, Miele says you need to test again days later.

Cut 5 (11) “…two-thirds of the time.”

The website COVIDtests.gov for individuals to order free home tests is now live.  You are initially limited to four tests per household.

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U-S Senate Democratic candidate Gary Chambers, who is one of two announced challengers to Republican John Kennedy released a campaign ad today that shows him smoking marijuana. Chambers says the goal of the ad is to destigmatize the drug and support legalization and decriminalization.

 Cut 6 (12) “…just like me” 

Luke Mixon is the other announced Democratic challenger to Kennedy, who is not in jeopardy of losing his Senate seat. Reporter Tyler Bridges is covering the Senate race for the Advocate newspaper and says it’s a bold move by Chambers to show him smoking marijuana in a campaign ad…

Cut 7 (07) “…the race.” 

Bridges has been covering political races in Louisiana for decades and admits a commercial showing a US Senate candidate smoking marijuana is unique…

Cut 8 (10) “…in Lousiana”  

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The family of a Slidell mother believed to have been decapitated in New Orleans is demanding that the man suspected of killing her be held without bail. Julia Dardar’s dismembered body was found in a freezer and local artist Benjamin Beale has been charged in her death. Julia’s estranged husband Micah Dardar spoke on the steps of New Orleans City Hall…

Cut 9 (06) “…demonic”

Beale’s bond is currently at one point four million dollars. He’s facing numerous charges including second-degree murder and obstruction of justice. Micah Dardar says they are concerned that Beale’s parents have the ability to bond him out…

Cut 10 (12)  “….of this” 

Micah Dardar reported Julia missing on December 23rd. He says Julia Dardar suffered from addiction and mental health issues and he knew she was hanging around Beale, who is also known as Kelley Kirkpatrick…

Cut  11 (11)  “…too late.”

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The National Weather Service says there’s the possibility of a wintry mix later this week. A strong cold front arrives tomorrow bringing the potential for strong storms late Wednesday in north Louisiana. Meteorologist Kevin Owens says behind the front is very cold air and once the temperature gets close to the freezing mark, freezing rain is possible…

Cut 12 (11) “…more information”  

The wintry mix is possible for north and central Louisiana Thursday morning and south Louisiana north of I-10 and I-12 Thursday night through Friday morning. Owens says tomorrow will start off as a mild day and then some of the coldest weather of the winter will arrive…

Cut 13 (11) “…the week.”

2:30 LRN Newscast Jan 18

A St. Martin Parish man faces murder charges after LEO’s find a dead man and dog inside a burning building. Details are scarce at this time, but we do know that the suspect, Randall Romero of St. Martinville, is charged with 2nd-degree murder, unlawful disposal of human remains, cruelty to animals and more.

“COVIDtests.gov” , the website to order your free at-home coronavirus tests, is now live. Brooke Thorington has more on the reliability of home tests…:

CUT 01(34)      “….Thorington.”

 

The family of a Slidell mother believed to have been decapitated in New Orleans is demanding that the man suspected of killing her be held without bail. A dismembered body, believed to Julia Dardar’s, was found in a freezer on local artist Benjamin Beale’s property. He’s has been charged in her death. Julia’s estranged husband Micah Dardar says Beale’s parents have the ability to bond him out, and that is a problem…:

CUT 10(12)      “…can’t get out of this.”

U.S. Senate candidate Gary Chambers, of Baton Rouge, releases a campaign ad showing him smoking pot. He says he wants to destigmatize the herb, as a non-violent offense that is clogging up court dockets and taking needed jail space. Reporter Tyler Bridges covers the Senate race for the Advocate newspaper. He says, if nothing else, the Chambers ad is unique…:

CUT 08(10)      “…in Louisiana.”

1:30 LRN Newscast Jan 18

The family of a Slidell mother believed to have been decapitated in New Orleans is demanding that the man suspected of killing her be held without bail. Julia Dardar’s dismembered body was found in a freezer and local artist Benjamin Beale has been charged. Julia’s estranged husband Micah Dardar spoke on the steps of New Orleans City Hall…

Cut 9 (06) “…demonic”

Beale’s bond is currently at one point four million dollars.

Chair of Genetics at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Lucio Miele says if you’ve been exposed to COVID you should wait five days to be tested. If you test negative with a rapid or home test, he says you need to test again days later.

Cut 5 (11) “…two-thirds of the time.”

The website COVIDtests.gov for individuals to order free home tests is now live

Louisiana now has tallied more than 1-million total COVID cases since the beginning of the pandemic with one million 25-thousand 748. Today more than 29-thousand new COVID are reported, which includes weekend cases and those from the holiday. 2,183 COVID patients are in Louisiana hospitals and 58 fatalities have been reported also.

U-S Senate Democratic candidate Gary Chambers, who is one of two announced challengers to Republican John Kennedy released a campaign ad today that shows him smoking marijuana. Advocate Reporter Tyler Bridges says it’s a bold move by Chambers to show him smoking marijuana in a campaign ad…

Cut 7 (07) “…the race.” 

Chambers says the goal of the ad is to destigmatize the drug and support legalization and decriminalization. Democrat Luke Mixon has also announced his candidacy.

12:30 LRN Newscast Jan 18

The estranged husband of a Slidell woman who was dismembered and her body parts kept in a freezer is calling on the justice system to keep the accused killer behind bars on no bail. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Louisiana reaches a grim COVID milestone of more than 1-million total cases since the beginning of the pandemic with one million 25-thousand 748. Today more than 29-thousand new COVID are reported, which includes weekend cases and those from the holiday. 2,183 COVID patients are in Louisiana hospitals.

Dr. Lucio Miele, Chair of the Department of Genetics at LSU Health New Orleans says you are more likely to get a false negative with a home rapid test, so it’s best to test again in a few days. Miele says a PCR test is more accurate, but it takes several days to receive results. He says having both speed and sensitivity is a difficult combination in a test.

Cut 4 (08) “…not possible.”

Miele says if you get a positive result from a home test you have COVID.

U-S Senate Democratic candidate Gary Chambers, who is one of two announced challengers to Republican John Kennedy released a campaign ad today that shows him smoking marijuana. Chambers says the goal of the ad is to destigmatize the drug and support legalization and decriminalization.

 Cut 6 (12) “…just like me” 

Luke Mixon is the other democrat who’s announced his candidacy.

11:40 LRN Sportscast January 18

LSU head football coach Brian Kelly continues to fill out his staff with big names with local ties. Kelly announced the hiring of Georgia assistant and New Orleans native Cortez Hankton as the team’s wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. Hankton served in the same role for the Bulldogs for the past three seasons. Tiger Rag Editor Adam Hunsucker says Kelly’s staff is ready to compete with any in the SEC.

Cut 20 (10) “…national title.”

Tigers’ wide-out Jaray Jenkins will be working with Hankton next season, as he announced he will be returning to LSU for a fifth year. Over the past two campaigns, Jenkins has 57 catches for 899 yards and eight touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, safety Jay Ward will also be back in the purple and gold, according to a report from 247sports. His return is a huge boost for the Tigers’ secondary. Ward collected 71 tackles, two interceptions, and six pass breakups last season.

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Moving to baseball, LSU enters the DI Baseball preseason top-25 ranked eighth in the nation. The Tigers are one of six SEC teams in the top ten. LSU opens its first season under new coach Jay Johnson on February 18 against Maine at Alex Box Stadium.

Kim Mulkey is another LSU coach making waves. The women’s basketball team has moved up to eleventh in the latest AP rankings after wins over Missouri and Vanderbilt. This is the highest LSU has been ranked since the Tigers were number five on December 20, 2009.

And the Pelicans dropped their second straight game on their current three-game road trip, falling to the Boston Celtics, 104-92.

The Pels led by as many as 18 points before their second-half collapse. Coach Willie Green said that there are just some games like this, but he expects his team to bounce back.

Cut 17 (08) “…their physicality.”

New Orleans is back on the court Thursday when they face the New York Knicks.