9:30 LRN Newscast August 3

Starting tomorrow, an indoor statewide mask mandate will go into effect in Louisiana for everyone five years old and up. It’s in response to a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations that the governor says is threatening the ability of hospitals to deliver care. Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris supports the executive order that will be in place for the rest of August…
cut 4 (08) “….venue”
Health officials are concerned about the increase they’ve seen in the number of serious COVID cases among children. Children’s Hospital Chief Academic Officer Doctor Mark Kline says there’s a myth that only children with preexisting conditions are at risk of severe cases…
Cut 9 (10) “…unit.”

As more and more are diagnosed with COVID due to the Delta variant after the initial infection, some see lasting effects. Chief of Infectious Diseases at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Julio Figueroa says if you are in the process of recovering from COVID, listen to your body and take it slow.
Cut 13 (10) “…of things.”

LSU Quarterback Myles Brennan has suffered an injury to his non-throwing arm and Coach Ed Orgeron says the injury will require surgery. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins has learned Brennan broke his humerus bone…
cut 6 (08) “…for him”
The Athletic’s Brody Miller reports Brennan suffered the injury this past weekend while fishing. Max Johnson is now set to be LSU’s starting Q-B.

8:30 LRN Newscast August 3

In response to the fourth surge of COVID019, Governor John Bel Edwards is reinstating a statewide indoor mask mandate that will go into effect tomorrow. The executive order has the support of several business groups, including the Louisiana Restaurant Association. L-R-A President Stan Harris says business groups are especially concerned about Louisiana’s rapidly shrinking hospital capacity.
Cut 5 (09) “…state.”
The number of COVID patients in the hospital is 1,984, which is nearly a record. Children’s Hospital Chief Academic Officer Doctor Mark Kline says in the last month they’ve had as many as 20 kids amitted for COVID at a given time…
cut 8 (13) “….seven”

If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID and in the process of recovering health officials say the virus impacts people differently…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU Quarterback Myles Brennan is out indefinitely after injuring his non-throwing arm. Coach Ed Orgeron says surgery will be required to help the injury heal. Brennan was set to battle Max Johnson for starting Q-B duties, but now Johnson looks to be the starter for the Tigers who report for camp on Thursday.

7:30 LRN Newscast August 3

Several major business groups support the Governor’s reinstatement of an indoor mask mandate fearing the economic fallout that could occur should the Delta surge get out of control…
Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Chief of Infectious Diseases at LSU Health New Orleans Doctor Julio Figueroa says if you’ve been recently infected, pay attention to anything out of the ordinary and discuss with your physician…
cut 15 (05) “…sorts of things”

State health officials are warning that the Delta variant appears to impact children much more than the original strain of coronavirus. Children’s Hospital Chief Academic Officer Dr. Mark Kline says a lot more kids are getting sick with COVID than at any time before.
Cut 7 (11) “…weeks.”
Governor Edwards says of the 11,000 cases reported since Friday over 2,000 of them were children.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue says they’ve sent out 12-thousand letters to individuals and businesses advising them to claim their refunds before they are transferred to the Unclaimed Property Division of the state treasurer’s office. L-D-R spokesperson Byron Henderson says to claim the refund, complete and return to LDR the voucher in the Notice of Unclaimed Property letter that was sent last week. Henderson says taxpayers have until September 15th to claim this money…
cut 12 (04) “….unclaimed property”

6:45 LRN Sportscast August 3

When LSU reports for fall camp later this week, there will not be an intense competition for starting quarterback. Coach Ed Orgeron says fifth-year quarterback Myles Brennan suffered a left arm injury that will require surgery. A timeline on when he can return has not been established. That means Max Johnson will most likely be the Tigers starting Q-B when they open the season at U-C-L-A.

After reaching a one-year deal with the Saints, former Falcons running back Devonta Freeman had his first practice with the Black and Gold yesterday. The 29-year-old has rushed for over four thousand yards in his career and he has over two thousand receiving yards. Coach Sean Payton says Freeman gives them added depth and versatility at the running back position…
Cut 16 (12) “..about that.”

The Pelicans have reportedly reached a sign and trade deal with the Bulls that will send 23-year-old Lonzo Ball to Chicago and in return, New Orleans received Tomas Satoransky, former LSU Tiger Garrett Temple, and a second-round pick. Ball gets a four-year, 85-million dollar contract with Chicago.

Satoransky is six-foot-seven, 210 pounds and he averaged eight points and five assists a game last season. Temp has been in the NBA a long time and averaged eight points a game last season.

To make up for the loss of Ball, New Orleans has reportedly reached a deal with Charlotte for Hornets guard Devonte Graham, who shot 38-percent from three-point territory last season.

St. Thomas More Quarterback Walker Howard is now listed by 24-7 sports as the number one quarterback in the nation for the Class of 2022. He’s an LSU commit. Also, the Tigers have received a commitment from North Caddo wide receiver Omarion Miller who is entering his junior season.

6:30 LRN Newscast August 3

Louisiana will be back under a mask mandate starting tomorrow for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, age five and over. Governor Edwards says this indoor mask mandate will stay in place for at least the rest of the month as the number of COVID patients in Louisiana hospitals has reached nearly two thousand.

And Matt Doyle reports far more children are getting COVID than any other time during the pandemic due to the Delta variant…
cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Louisiana business groups are urging the public to follow the state’s new indoor mask mandate. Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says asking patrons to wear a mask is a simple step that can help reduce COVID spread…
cut 6 (08) “….visit”
Harris also encourages everyone 12 years and up to consider taking the vaccine so the state can return to normal faster.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue will soon turn over more than $10-million dollars to Unclaimed Property. Department of Revenue Spokesperson Byron Henderson says it’s money that was issued by paper checks for tax refunds, from July of 2019 to June of 2020, that have gone uncashed.
Cut 10 (10) “…division.”
Henderson says the department has sent out 13-thousand letters notifying individuals and businesses of the uncashed checks.

AM LRN Newscall Aug 3

Several major business groups have released statements in support of the Governor’s reinstatement of the mask mandate fearing the economic fallout the would occur should the Delta surge get out of control. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

___________________________________

Far more children appear to be getting COVID than at any time before due to the Delta variant. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID and are in the process of recovering health officials say understand that the virus impacts people differently. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

_______________________________

Influential business lobbies have come out in support of the Governor’s reinstatement of the mask mandate.

Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says the state’s mom and pop restaurants need you to mask up so they can stay open…

Cut 4 (08) “…venue.”

The LRA is joined by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, The National Federation of Independent Business, and the Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association in asking members to comply with the mask mandate.

Harris says business groups are especially concerned about Louisiana’s rapidly shrinking hospital capacity amidst the Delta surge and the economic repercussions of letting this surge get out of control.

Cut 5 (09) “…state.”

Harris says the next time you visit a restaurant please be courteous to the staff about masking and other public health guidelines. He says these guidelines are in place to keep businesses open.

Cut 6 (08) “…visit.”

The indoor mask mandate goes into effect Wednesday for everyone five and older.

_____________________

State health officials are warning that the Delta variant appears to impact children much more than the original strain of coronavirus.

Children’s Hospital Chief Academic Officer Dr. Mark Kline says a lot more kids are getting sick with COVID than at any time before.

Cut 7 (11) “…weeks.”

Governor Edwards says of the 11,000 cases reported since Friday over 2,000 of them we’re children.

Kline says in the last month they have had as many as 20 children admitted for COVID at any given time.

Cut 8 (13) “…seven.” 

Kline says there’s a myth that children are immune to COVID, or that only children with preexisting conditions were at risk of severe cases…

Cut 9 (10) “…unit.”

_____________________________________

The Louisiana Department of Revenue is about to turn over more than $10-million to Unclaimed Property. Department of Revenue Spokesperson Byron Henderson says it’s money that was issued by paper checks for tax refunds, from July of 2019 to June of 2020, that have gone uncashed.

Cut 10 (10) “…division.”

Henderson says the department has sent out 13-thousand letters notifying individuals and businesses of the uncashed checks.

Cut 11 (09) “…the letter.”

Henderson says if the voucher is returned before September 15th, they will issue a replacement check.

If for some reason you don’t use the voucher process for a replacement check before the mid-September deadline Henderson says you’ll need then need to go through another process to receive the funds.

Cut 12 (04) “…unclaimed property.” 

_____________________________________

As more and more are diagnosed with COVID due to the Delta variant after the initial infection some are seeing lasting effects from the virus. Chief of Infectious Diseases at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Julio Figueroa if you are in the process of recovering from COVID he says to listen to your body and take it slow.

Cut 13 (10) “…of things.”

Figueroa says even athletes in top form are finding it difficult to return to their previous breathing capacity before they were infected. He says COVID impacts individuals in different ways.

Cut 14 (09) “…of the virus.”

As you recover Figueroa says pay attention to anything out of the ordinary and discuss it with your physician.

Cut 15 (05)“…sorts of things.”

______________________________

After reaching a one-year deal with the Saints, former Falcons running back Devonta Freeman had his first practice with the Black and Gold yesterday. The 29-year-old has rushed for over four thousand yards in his career and he has over two thousand receiving yards. Coach Sean Payton says Freeman gives them added depth and versatility at the running back position…

Cut 16 (12) “..about that.”

Freeman played in five games for the Giants last season, but before that he spent six years in Atlanta. The former Florida State standout has always been impressed with how Coach Sean Payton uses his running backs…

Cut 17 (14) …smart football.” 

While both Payton and Freeman are expressing admiration for each other, back in 2017, Payton made a choking gesture toward Freeman during a game in 2017. But Freeman says they put the incident behind each other the next day…

Cut  18 (19)”…was cool.”

5:30 LRN Newscast Aug 2

Governor Edwards reinstates the statewide indoor mask mandate effective Wednesday for everyone five and older. Edwards says there is a dangerous amount of COVID spreading through the state right now and the vast majority of it is the more deadly and infectious Delta variant.

Cut 14 (10) “…vaccinated”

Edwards was surrounded and supported by health officials and business organizations across the state.

The state reported more than 11,000 new COVID cases today and just under two thousand hospitalizations.  27 new fatalities were also reported. Edwards says while the mandate goes in effect Wednesday, he urged Louisianans not to wait.  Previous mask mandates were for individuals 8 and up it’s now been lowered to age five and up.

A man killed his grandmother and attempted to kill his mother in East Baton Rouge Parish Sunday morning then went on a shooting spree trying to steal a getaway car. Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says the suspect is 28-year-old Aaron Morgan stole a second car after initially fleeing in his grandmother’s car. Police spotted the stolen vehicle on Siegen Lane.  Then a pursuit on foot ensued.

Cut 5 (09) “…hospital.”

Democratic State House chairs Chad Brown and Vincent Pierre were removed from their posts, seemingly as retaliation by the Republican Speaker for votes in the recent veto override session. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says this move was blowback for the two Democrats’ votes against legislation banning transgender athletes from girls’ sports.

Cut 6 (10) “…accountable.” 

Two other Democrats were also removed from key committee assignments.

4:45 LRN Sportscast August 2

Former LSU baseball coach and athletic director Skip Bertman have joined the thousands that have tested positive for COVID as a fourth surge of new infections continues to impact the state. Bertman and his wife have both tested positive, but they are both experiencing mild symptoms at the age of 83. They are encouraging anyone who has yet to get the vaccine to do so.

Alabama’s board of trustees approved a contract extension for Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban. The 69-year-old will make 8-point-7 million dollars this year, an increase of 400-thousand dollars. The new contract also lasts through the 2028 season.

Some good and bad on the recruiting front for LSU, five-star safety Jacoby Matthews of Ponchatoula has decided to decommit from LSU. But the Tigers have received a commitment from Catholic High of Baton Rouge offensive lineman Emery Jones.

Lake Charles College Prep receiver Keshlon Jackson has committed to Louisiana Tech. The six-foot, 170-pounder is a three-star recruit.

Saints Quarterback Taysom Hill no longer looks as he did in the past as he slimmed down to be the starting Q-B. Hill has shown he can run the football, but he wants to demonstrate during training camp that he can get the ball down the field…
cut 16 (20) “…plays”
Hill is locked up in a quarterback battle with Jameis Winston. Both Q-Bs will not have Michael Thomas at the beginning of the season, because of offseason ankle surgery. Winston believes Thomas will come back stronger than ever…
cut 18 (14) “….Saints organiziation”

430 PM LRN News

Governor Edwards reinstates the statewide indoor mask mandate effective Wednesday for those five and older. Edwards says there is a dangerous amount of COVID spreading through the state right now and…

Cut 14 (10) “…vaccinated”

Other state leaders, including the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and the Louisiana Restaurant Association have come out in support of the mandate.

28-year-old Aaron Morgan was arrested Sunday after allegedly stabbing his grandmother to death, stabbing his mom, and then going on a shooting spree in an attempt to steal a car afterwards. East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux…

Cut 4 (12) “…the victims.”

Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder strips two Democrats of their committee chairmanships reportedly as retribution for their votes against overturning a ban on transgender athletes in girls’ sports. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says after some indications that Schexnayder could be

removed over the veto session failure it appears he’s managed to stabilize his support.

Cut 8 (11) “…process.”

One Independent and one Democrat who voted against the ban were also removed from committees. Alford says additional removals could be on the way.

Chaos on Bourbon Street in New Orleans Sunday morning as five people were injured in a shooting incident. No fatalities thankfully resulted from the early morning attack and one person was taken into custody as a result.  

3:30 LRN Newscast Aug 2

Governor Edwards reinstates the statewide indoor mask mandate effective Wednesday for everyone five and older. Edwards says our case growth is now, by far, the fastest in the nation and we’re on track to blow past our highest ever number of COVID patients in the hospital. He says 4th surge is the worst one yet…

Cut 12 (10) “…public” 

A man killed his grandmother and attempted to kill his mother in East Baton Rouge Parish Sunday morning then went on a shooting spree trying to steal a getaway car. Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says the suspect is 28-year-old Aaron Morgan.

Cut 3 (11) “…condition.” 

The fatality was identified as 78-year-old Dianne Gafford.

A tragic boating incident over the weekend claims three lives in Sabine Parish.  Lt Dean Aucoin, Director of Boating Education for LDWF says they were notified Saturday morning that three men went out boating on Toledo Bend Friday evening and never returned.

Cut 9 (12) “…on the water”

Democratic State House chairs Chad Brown and Vincent Pierre were removed from their posts, seemingly as retaliation by the Republican Speaker for votes in the recent veto override session. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says the most interesting question now is whether Speaker Clay Schexnayder will replace the two Democrats with conservative Republicans.

Cut 7 (10) “…speaker.”