530 PM LRN News

Democrats are lining up to take on Senator Bill Cassidy in November with a number of newly announced candidates saying they’ll file paperwork this week. Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins was the highlight, but Baton Rouge progressive activist Antoine Peirce, the first candidate to announce for the race, is also going to be on the ballot after filling in the paperwork today.

Cut 10 (12) “…cannabis.”

The National Hurricane Center is giving a tropical wave in the central Gulf of Mexico a high chance to develop into a tropical cyclone over the next two days. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this disturbance will have a more immediate impact on the state.

Cut 4 (11)_ “of Louisiana”

There’s also Tropical Storm Gonzalo in the Atlantic, which is expected to reach the Caribbean on Saturday.

Louisiana has added nearly 1,000 COVID hospitalizations since moving into Phase Two June 5th. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says that’s concerning healthcare providers who are already dealing with an influx of patients who weren’t being treated during the stay at home order.

Cut 11 (11) “hospital”

We now have 1581 COVID hospitalizations, nearly triple our low point of 542 June 13th.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell files paperwork seeking a fourth term in the office representing northwest Louisiana. Campbell is one of the state’s longest-serving elected officials, first elected to the State Senate in 1975. Campbell says he wants to continue his work serving the working people of the state.

Cut 14 (11) “…them.”

4:30 PM Newscast

The state reports 60 new COVID-19 fatalities today, the highest daily addition since May 1. Total statewide death toll: 3,558. The state also added another 2,800 cases and is on course to surpass 100,000 total cases tomorrow. 62,456 are presumed recovered.

Statewide COVID hospitalizations are nearly triple what they were at our low point on June 13th. Matt Doyle reports healthcare providers are worried about hospital capacity again

cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

 

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins has announced he will run against Republican Senator Bill Cassidy in the November 3rd election. Perkins will officially qualify tomorrow. John Paul Bourgeois from Gretna was the first person to sign up to challenge Cassidy. Bourgeois is an epidemiologist and public health librarian. The Gretna resident says he’s running against Cassidy because he tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act…

Cut 9 (12) “…not acceptable.”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell files paperwork seeking a fourth term in the office representing northwest Louisiana. The Louisiana Political Hall of Famer says if given another term he will continue to fight for more rural broadband access and against predatory utility practices.

Cut 15 (11) “…mind” 

 

4:45 LRN Sportscasts July 22nd

The Pelicans face the Brooklyn Nets in a scrimmage game tonight inside the NBA’s bubble in Orlando. Zion Williamson will not play as he remains away from the team attending an urgent family matter. But we finally got an update today on the rookie forward. The Pels says there is no current timetable for his return to campus, but he fully intends to rejoin the team. Team officials say Williamson is getting tested daily for COVID-19 while he’s away. Per NBA protocol, his quarantine period will be determined upon his return.

The NFL Players Association has reportedly accepted the league’s offer to scrap preseason games this year, so that players can have more time to get themselves prepared before they play in a game. Also, roster sizes for training camp are expected to be limited to 80 players, instead of 90. And the NFL said today that if fans are allowed inside stadiums this year, they’ll be required to wear masks.

Central Arkansas has been picked to win the Southland Conference in a poll of the league’s head football coaches and sports information directors. The Bears have a league-high 13 preseason all-conference players. They shared the conference crown with Nicholls last year. The Colonels are picked to finish third behind Sam Houston State. Southeastern Louisiana is picked to finish fourth, McNeese fifth, and Northwestern State in 10th place. Commissioner Tom Burnett said today they plan to proceed with the upcoming football season as scheduled.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron is also planning on a football season in the fall. Orgeron said on a Baton Rouge radio show that running back John Emery is the likely candidate to return kicks, replacing Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

LSU defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin, safety Jacoby Stevens, and cornerback Derek Stingley are on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The award goes to the Defensive Player of the Year award.

330 PM LRN News

Over 2,800 new COVID positive tests are being reported today along with a startling 54 person increase in COVID hospitalizations. The state is nearly back to where it was in late April when it comes to hospital bed usage, and several regions of Louisiana are now actively working to move ICU patients into less slammed areas. Some have called the recent concern over ballooning cases hysteria caused by higher overall testing but Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says that’s false, and the state now has an over ten percent positive rate for COVID tests.

Cut 13 (09) “…tested” 

We now have 1581 COVID hospitalizations, nearly triple our low point of 542 June 13th.

The National Hurricane Center is giving a tropical wave in the central Gulf of Mexico a high chance to develop into a tropical cyclone over the next two days. State Climatologist Barry Keim…

Cut 3 (12)  “….of the tracking”  

The Democrats managed to find a big-name candidate to take on Senator Bill Cassidy after months of hand-wringing over a lack of candidates with fundraising appeal. Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins has announced he will run Perkins says he decided to run because America and Louisiana are at a crossroads

Cut 6 (10) “…head on”

Cassidy says he’s done a lot during his five years in the U-S Senate and plans to run on that record…

Cut 8 (07) “…more to do”

Perkins gives Cassidy a major challenger from the Democratic Party, but Cassidy holds a huge fundraising advantage. John Paul Bourgeois of Gretna and Baton Rouge progressive activist Antoine Peirce also sighed up to run against the Senior Senator.

LRN PM Newscall July 22nd

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins announces he’s running for U-S Senate, giving Republican Incumbent Bill Cassidy a major challenger for the November 3rd election. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

____________________________

Statewide COVID hospitalizations are nearly triple what they were at our low point on June 13th. Matt Doyle reports healthcare providers are worried about hospital capacity again

cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

_____________________________

The National Hurricane Center is giving a tropical wave in the central Gulf of Mexico a high chance to develop into a tropical cyclone over the next two days. State Climatologist Barry Keim…

Cut 3 (12)  “….of the tracking”  

But in the meantime, Keim says this disturbance will have a more immediate impact on the state.

Cut 4 (11)_ “of Louisiana”

Keim says if this system continues to develop, we could see some high winds and storm surge along the coastline.

Cut 5 (11)  “for us”

There’s also Tropical Storm Gonzalo in the Atlantic, which is expected to reach the Caribbean on Saturday.

______________________

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins has announced he will run against Republican Senator Bill Cassidy in the November 3rd election. Perkins says he decided to run because America and Louisiana are at a crossroads

Cut 6 (10) “…head on”

Perkins gives Cassidy a major challenger from the Democratic Party, but Cassidy holds a huge fundraising advantage.

Perkins says he’s tired of the political games in Washington D-C and he wants to help create a government that serves everyone…

Cut 7 (04) “by them”

Cassidy says he’s done a lot during his five years in the U-S Senate and plans to run on that record…

Cut 8 (07) “…more to do”

Perkins will officially qualify tomorrow. John Paul Bourgeois from Gretna was the first person to sign up to challenge Cassidy. Bourgeois is an epidemiologist and public health librarian. The Gretna resident says he’s running against Cassidy because he tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act…

Cut 9 (12) “…not acceptable.”

Baton Rouge Democrat Antoine Pierce also signed up to run for US Senate on the first day of qualifying, Pierce says reducing poverty in Louisiana is his goal…

Cut 10 (12) “…cannabis.”

_______________________________

Louisiana has added nearly 1,000 COVID hospitalizations since moving into Phase Two June 5th.

Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says that’s concerning healthcare providers who are already dealing with an influx of patients who weren’t being treated during the stay at home order.

Cut 11 (11) “hospital”

We now have 1581 COVID hospitalizations, nearly triple our low point of 542 June 13th.

In response, Governor Edwards issued a statewide mask mandate and closed bars last Monday. Billioux says they’re hoping to see results from that as early as next week.

Cut 12 (09) “…systems” 

Some have argued that the recent wave is exaggerated due to increased testing numbers, but Billioux we’re seeing a steady rise in hospitalizations, and the state now has an over ten percent positive rate for COVID tests.

Cut 13 (09) “…tested” 

_____________________

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell files paperwork seeking a fourth term in the office representing northwest Louisiana.

Campbell is one of the state’s longest-serving elected officials, first elected to the State Senate in 1975. Campbell says he wants to continue his work serving the working people of the state.

Cut 14 (11) “…them.”

Campbell has made several attempts to run for federal and statewide offices but has not been successful, his most recent effort a loss to now-Senator John Kennedy in 2016.

The Louisiana Political Hall of Famer says if given another term he will continue to fight for more rural broadband access and against predatory utility practices.

Cut 15 (11) “…mind” 

________________

230 PM LRN News

Louisiana reports 54 new COVID hospitalizations putting us at 1581 total, the highest mark since May 1st. The nearly 2,800 new positive tests put us less than 700 cases away from breaking 100,000 total since the pandemic began, a number that almost certainly will be reached tomorrow.

Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says these numbers are alarming but starting next week they hope they will level off due to the Governor’s face mask and bar ban mandate. 

Cut 12 (09) “…systems” 

The National Hurricane Center is giving a tropical wave in the central Gulf of Mexico a high chance to develop into a tropical cyclone over the next two days.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s likely to head for Houston, but if this system continues to develop, we could see some high winds and storm surge along the coastline.

Cut 5 (11)  “for us”

Democrats are lining up to take on Senator Bill Cassidy in November with a number of newly announced candidates saying they’ll file paperwork this week. Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins was the highlight, but Paul Bourgeois from Gretna was the first person to sign up to challenge Cassidy. Bourgeois is an epidemiologist and public health librarian. The Gretna resident says he’s running against Cassidy because he tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act…

Cut 9 (12) “…not acceptable.”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell files paperwork seeking a fourth term in the office representing northwest Louisiana. Campbell is one of the state’s longest-serving elected officials, first elected to the State Senate in 1975. Campbell says he wants to continue his work serving the working people of the state.

Cut 14 (11) “…them.”

Campbell has made several attempts to run for federal and statewide offices but has not been successful, his most recent effort a loss to now-Senator John Kennedy in 2016.

1:30 LRN Newscast July 22

Louisiana reported another 28-hundred coronavirus cases today bringing the total number to 99,354. Hospitalizations also increased by another 54 to 1,581.

Statewide COVID hospitalizations are nearly triple what they were at our low point June 13th, and that has healthcare providers worried about capacity again. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins has announced his candidacy for U-S Senate, giving Republican Incumbent Bill Cassidy a major challenger from the Democratic Party. Perkins says he’s tired of the political games in Washington DC and he wants to help create a government that serves everyone…
Cut 7 (04) “by them”
Antoine Pierce of Baton Rouge is another Democrat who signed up today to challenge Cassidy. Pierce says reducing poverty is one of his main goals…
cut 10 (12) “….cannabis”
Cassidy touts his work in reducing prescription drug prices and health care premiums.

Qualifying is also underway for the 5th District Congressional race, which is an open seat because Republican Ralph Abraham is not seeking reelection. So far five candidates are signed up

1230 PM LRN News

Louisiana has added over 900 COVID hospitalizations since moving into Phase Two June 5th. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says that’s concerning healthcare providers who are already dealing with an influx of patients who weren’t being treated during the stay at home order.

Cut 11 (11) “hospital”

We now have 1527 COVID hospitalizations, nearly triple our low point of 542 June 13th.

Coalition for Responsible Home Education Director Rachel Coleman says many parents are considering homeschooling for the fall with school life being uncertain. Coleman says if you’re considering homeschooling know you must have a caregiver who can be a full-time educator that can provide a curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered by public schools of the same grade.

Cut 13 (12) “…school” 

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins announces he’s running for U-S Senate, giving Republican Incumbent Bill Cassidy a major challenger for the November 3rd election. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

11:30 LRN Newscast July 22

Louisiana will remain in Phase Two through early August as the number of people hospitalized by COVID-19 continues to rise…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Qualifying for the November federal election is underway and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy is up for re-election. The doctor from Baton Rouge says he has a strong record to run on…
cut 8 (07) “…more to do”
Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins announced this morning that he will for Senate giving Cassidy a major Democratic challenger.

The National Hurricane Center is giving a tropical wave moving towards the central Gulf of Mexico a medium chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours. State Climatologist Barry Keim says even if this system doesn’t develop into a named storm, it will still bring rain to the Bayou State…
cut 4 (11) “…of Louisiana”
Tropical Storm Gonzalo formed in the middle of the Atlantic this morning. Gonzalo is expected to develop into a hurricane as it heads towards the Caribbean. Gonzalo could be bearing down on Jamaica on Monday.

A new era in Monroe city government is underway as Friday Ellis has been sworn-in as mayor….
cut 15 (11) “….of its residents”
Ellis ran as an independent and defeated longtime mayor Jamie Mayo.

10:30 LRN Newscast July 22nd

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins announced this morning he will run against Republican Senator Bill Cassidy in the November 3rd election. Perkins says he decided to run for the United States Senate because America and Louisiana are at a crossroads…
cut 6 (10) “…..head-on”
Perkins gives Cassidy a major challenger from the Democratic Party, but Cassidy holds a huge fundraising advantage as he seeks a second term.

A tropical wave producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms will move across the central Gulf of Mexico today and the National Hurricane Center gives it a medium chance to develop into a tropical cyclone over the next two days. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 3 (11) “…tracking”

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced the state will remain in phase two, which means the current restrictions on businesses and the mask mandate will remain in place through at least August seventh. Edwards says his biggest concern is the upward trajectory in the number of coronavirus patients at hospitals in all regions of the state…
cut 10 (12) “…motor vehicle accident”
Louisiana is reporting 1,527 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, the state’s highest total since May 3rd.

Local school systems have been rolling out their plans for the upcoming school year, but some parents are uneasy about sending their children back into the classroom. Coalition for Responsible Home Education Director Rachel Coleman says if you commit to homeschooling, you need to submit a form to BESE and be approved…
cut 12 (09) “….district”