10:30 LRN Newscast February 24

Tandem floats have been banned from New Orleans Mardi Gras parades following the deaths of two parade-goers who were struck and killed by two floats pulled by one tractor. 58-year-old Joseph Sampson died Saturday after he fell underneath a tandem float during the Endymion parade. Krewe president Dan Kelly supports the Mayor’s decision to ban tandem floats, but he’s not sure that’s the long-term solution….
cut 5 (09) “…Mardi Gras”
Sampson’s family has started a GoFundMe account to help pay for funeral expenses.

Governor John Bel Edwards has created the “Climate Initiatives Task Force” that will work on ways to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to slow sea-level rise….
cut 13 (10) “…related”
That’s Chief Resilience Officer Charles Sutcliff.

A former Bossier City Police Officer has been arrested on murder and obstruction of justice charges. 43-year-old John Hardy was taken into custody over the weekend. The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office has not released many details. But Hardy’s business partner has been missing since January 24th and human remains were discovered in a wooded area outside of Benton on Friday.

The fourth annual Mardi Gras Parade Adoption Program is underway to place extra horses with owners so they can avoid possible slaughter. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington

9:30 LRN Newscast February 24

A somber mood has come over Carnival 2020 after a second person was struck and killed by a Mardi Gras float in New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Longtime Louisiana lawmaker Butch Gautreaux has passed away at the age of 72. A cause of death has not been released. He represented St. Mary Parish in the state legislature from 1996 to 2012. He was also a businessman, former owner of a home appliance and electronics store in Morgan City.

An Alexandria-based cybersecurity agency called Ingalls Information expects we’ll see ransomware attacks in an effort to disrupt the 2020 presidential election. Ingalls Information Security CEO Jason Ingalls says it appears state and local election systems are protected well, but hackers could target other state agencies with ransomware attacks around election time. He says OMV was recently impacted by a ransomware attack…
cut 12 (13) “….been place”

Governor Edwards has created the Climate Initatives Task Force as the state looks to play a greater role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The state’s Chief Resilience Officer Charles Sutcliffe says….
cut 14 (12) “…conversation”
Scientists say greenhouse gas emissions is leading to a rise in sea levels.

8:30 LRN Newscast February 24

Tandem floats have been banned in New Orleans after two people during a three-day span were struck and killed by tandem floats during Mardi Gras parades. Two people also had to be rushed to a hospital after they fell from a second-floor balcony on St. Charles Avenue yesterday.

An Alexandria-based cybersecurity agency has broken down how the 2020 Presidential election could be compromised by ransomware….
Voicer 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Governor John Bel Edwards is setting up a Climate Initiatives Task Force that’s charged with developing a plan on how Louisiana industries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Discussing the impact of carbon emissions on the global climate can be controversial in an oil-rich state. but Edwards’ Chief Resilience Officer Charles Sutcliffe says the objective is not to attack a particular group.
Cut 15 (09) “…gonna do.”

For the fourth straight year, the Humane Society of Lousiana is running an adoption program for a few of the horses that walk in the Mardi Gras parades. Humane Society of Louisiana Director Jeff Dorson says 55 horses have been adopted over the last three years…
cut 9 (09) “…Mardi Gras horse”
Go to Facebook-dot-com, slash mardi-gras-horses to view the horses up for adoption.

7:30 LRN Newscast February 24

It’s Lundi Gras as a Carnival season marred by two deaths has two more days left in it. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has banned tandem floats after two people during a three-day span were hit and killed by a moving tandem float. Others say the city should put up more barricades, but Endymion Vice President Charles Bruno says more barricades can create a different problem…
cut 6 (10) “….larger crowd”
Two Krewe of Thoth riders have been hospitalized after falling off floats during yesterdays’ parade and two people fell from a second-story balcony on St. Charles Avenue had to be rushed to the hospital.

For a fourth straight year, The Humane Society of Louisiana is holding a Mardi Gras Parade Horse Adoption Program. Humane Society Director Jeff Dorson says the program has proven to be successful.
Cut 7 (06) “…for adoption.”
Go to the Humane Society of Louisiana’s Facebook page to find out which horses are up for adoption this year.

Governor John Bel Edwards has created the “Climate Initiatives Task Force” that will work on ways to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to slow sea level rise….
cut 13 (10) “…related”
That’s Chief Resilience Officer Charles Sutcliff who says the state is planning to spend a billion dollars a year on coastal restoration projects, but officials admit the plan requires a slowing of sea-level rise for the projects to have a longterm effect.

An Alexandria-based cybersecurity agency has broken down how the 2020 Presidential election could be hacked in a report distributed to the National Association of Secretaries of State. While Louisiana’s election computer system appears to be secure, Ingalls Information Security CEO Jason Ingalls says other agencies should be on high alert…
Cut 10 (10) “…pay your ransom.”
The state Office of Motor Vehicles was recently impacted by a ransomware attack.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Pelicans rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Golden State 115 to 101 last night. Zion Williamson had 28 points and Jrue Holiday had a big second half and finished with 23 points and 15 assists. The victory moves New Orleans into ninth place in the Western Conference and they are 3.5 games back of Memphis for the final playoff spot in the West. The Pels visit the Lakers tomorrow. LA beat the Celtics by two points yesterday.

LSU basketball snapped a two-game losing streak on Saturday with an 86-80 victory over South Carolina. Darius Days had 18 points as hit four three-pointers. The Tigers are at Florida on Wednesday.

In Denton, Texas, Louisiana Tech picked up a huge win over the Conference USA leader. DaQuan Bracey had 26 points in the 73-71 win over the Mean Green. The win improves the Dunkin Dogs league record to 11-4, North Texas falls to 12-3.

After a disappointing two to nothing loss on Friday, the 11th ranked LSU baseball team bounced back to win Saturday and Sunday to take the series from Eastern Kentucky. The Tigers had great starting pitching over the weekend. AJ Labas allowed two runs over seven innings in yesterday’s ten to two win
Cut 16 (23) …fine today’
LSU will host Louisiana Tech on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs blanked Troy nine to nothing yesterday as Kyle Halser drove in four runs. ULM scored 45 runs over the weekend as they swept Grambling State. Yesterday’s final score was 23 to 12.

The Ragin Cajuns were shutout three to nothing by Virginia Tech. Nicholls edged McNeese six to five and Tulane defeated 25th ranked Cal State Fullerton six to four in 13 innings.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Mardi Gras safety will be a big topic in New Orleans over the months ahead, after a second person in three days was struck and killed by a float. 58-year-old Joseph Sampson died Saturday after a passing tandem float hit him at the Endymion parade. Afterward, the city banned the use of tandem floats, but Endymion Vice President Charles Bruno does not believe a tandem float is to blame…
Cut 4 (11)_ “…police department”
Two Thoth riders were taken to the hospital yesterday after they fell off of separate floats and E-M-S says two were injured when they fell from a balcony on St. Charles Avenue.

A former Bossier City Police Officer has been arrested on murder and obstruction of justice charges. 43-year-old John Hardy was taken into custody over the weekend. The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office has not released only a few details.

The fourth annual Mardi Gras Parade Horse Adoption Program is underway. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington

Alexandria-based Ingalls Information Security has published a whitepaper on how the 2020 presidential election could be hacked. C-E-O Jason Ingalls says local level election systems are a likely target…
cut 11 (09) “…advanced malware attacks”
Ingalls recommends that state and local election officials have a next-generation anti-virus on their computers.

LRN AM Newscall February 24

There are two days left of parades and partying, but a somber mood has come over Carnival 2020 after a second person was struck and killed by a Mardi Gras float in New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

_____________________________________

The fourth annual Mardi Gras Parade Adoption Program is underway to place extra horses with owners so they can avoid possible slaughter. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington 

___________________________________________

An Alexandria-based cybersecurity agency has broken down how the 2020 Presidential election could be compromised by ransomware. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

____________________________________________

Mardi Gras safety will be a big topic in New Orleans over the months ahead, after a second person in three days was struck and killed by a float. 58-year-old Joseph Sampson died Saturday after a passing tandem float hit him at the Endymion parade. Afterward, the city banned the use of tandem floats, but Endymion Vice President Charles Bruno does not believe a tandem float is to blame

Cut 4 (11)_ “…police department”

Last Wednesday a 58-year-old woman was run over by a parade float and died. Endymion President Dan Kelly is calling on city leaders to come up with a plan to prevent future tragedies…

Cut 5 (09)  “…Mardi Gras parades”

Some say banning tandem floats is not the answer to preventing further deaths during the raucous street parades. Others say the city should put up more barricades keeping partygoers off the street. But Bruno says more barricades can create a different problem…

Cut 6 (10) “…larger crowd”

And on Sunday two krewe members on different floats in the Thoth parade fell off and had to be rushed to the hospital. Officials say both riders are in stable condition.

____________________________

The Humane Society of Louisiana is coordinating its fourth annual Mardi Gras Parade Horse Adoption Program. In the past extra horses needed to be used in parades were sent to auction, where they could be in danger of heading to slaughter.  Humane Society Director Jeff Dorson says the program has proven to be successful.

Cut 7 (06) “…for adoption.”

In the past potential adopters would choose from available horses after Carnival season, but with the program’s increased popularity, Dorson says they are seeing a new progression.

Cut 8 (11) “…few weeks.”

For 2020, twenty horses are up for adoption and more than half have already been adopted and several families have been approved by the Humane Society of Louisiana’s adoption team. Dorson is confident they will have another banner year.

Cut 9 (09) “…Mardi Gras horse.”

You can visit their facebook page Mardi Gras Horses for adoption information and photos of available horses.

____________________

An Alexandria-based cybersecurity agency has broken down how the 2020 Presidential election could be hacked in a report distributed to the National Association of Secretaries of State. While Louisiana appears to be secure, Ingalls Information Security CEO Jason Ingalls says in a recent intrusion response, the agency discovered vulnerabilities to ransomware.

Cut 10 (10) “…pay your ransom.”

Ingalls says local level election systems are a likely target.

Cut 11 (09) “…advanced malware attacks.”

State agencies such as the OMV were recently impacted by a ransomware attack. But Ingalls says the state’s election systems are a testament to good security.

Cut 12 (13) “… been in place.”

_____________________________________

Governor Edwards announces the creation of a “Climate Initiatives Task Force” that will work on ways to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to slow sea level rise.

The governor would not name any specific carbon emission targets at this point. But Edwards’ Chief Resilience Officer Charles Sutcliffe says it’s still early in the process.

Cut 13 (10) “…related.”

Edwards showcased his billion dollars a year coastal restoration plan last week, but officials admit it requires a slowing of sea-level rise to work longterm. Sutcliffe says it’ll have to be a global effort, but…

Cut 14 (12) “…conversation”

Discussing the impact of carbon emissions on the global climate can be controversial in an oil-rich state. Sutcliffe says the objective is not to attack a particular group.

Cut 15 (09) “…gonna do.”

__________________________________________

After a disappointing two to nothing loss on Friday, the 11th ranked LSU baseball team bounced back to win Saturday and Sunday to take the series from Eastern Kentucky. The Tigers had great starting pitching over the weekend. AJ Labas allowed two runs over seven innings in yesterday’s ten to two win

Cut 16  (23)  …fine today’   

LSU was shutout on Friday and put together a couple of good innings in the win on Saturday. But yesterday the Tigers busted the game open with a seven-run third inning. First baseman Cade Beloso had three hits and drove in three runs on the afternoon…

Cut 17  (24) “for sure 

Coach Paul Mainieri hopes Sunday’s performance at the plate will build the confidence of his hitters…

cut 18  (20) “of that”   

10:30 LRN Newscast

The rules and regulations for the state’s industrial hemp program are now finalized and the first license for industrial hemp has been issued. As part of the process, applicants have to undergo a background check. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the rules are guided by federal law.
Cut 4 (12) “…that is hallucinogenic.”
The planting season begins in mid-April.

A study commissioned by Louisiana’s Board of Regents recommends that a new law school should NOT be established in the Shreveport-Bossier region. Instead, Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says the report recommended that the region work to attract more attorneys to the Shreveport area…
Cut 7 (10) “…ideas or suggestions.”

The fourth annual Mardi Gras Parade Horse Adoption Program is underway. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is in effect for the remainder of the Carnival season. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says the goal is to prevent fatal drunk driving crashes…
Cut 10 (10) “…the message”
In 2018- the latest year for available stats, two people were killed over the final days of the Mardi Gras season the lowest since 2012.

9:30 LRN Newscast

St. Martin Parish Sheriff deputies have arrested a man accused of tossing a bag of puppies off a bridge into water in Henderson. Authorities say the incident happened Sunday and shortly after a person of interest was developed. Yesterday, 55-year-old Gary Goulas was charged with eight counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. A nearby fisherman rescued the puppies.

The state’s Ag Department has begun issuing industrial hemp licenses…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

For the fourth straight year, the Humane Society of Lousiana is running an adoption program for a few of the horses that walk in the Mardi Gras parades. Humane Society of Louisiana Director Jeff Dorson says 55 horses have been adopted over the last three years and they are expecting another successful year…
cut 9 (09) “…Mardi Gras horse”
Go to Facebook-dot-com, slash mardi-gras-horses to view the horses up for adoption.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is in effect across the state for the final weekend of the Carnival season. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says expect to see more law enforcement on the highway.
Cut 11 (09) “to Belle Chasse”
In 2018- the latest year of stats, two people were killed and 66 injured in alcohol-related crashes in Louisiana from the Friday before Mardi Gras through Fat Tuesday.

8:30 LRN Newscast February 22nd

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office believes they have found the person who tossed a bag full of lab puppies from a bridge into water in Henderson on Sunday. Deputies say they collected enough evidence to arrest 55-year-old Gary James Goulas of Breaux Bridge. He’s been charged with eight counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and booked into the parish prison.

Four the fourth straight year, the Humane Society of Louisiana is organizing a Mardi Gras Parade Horse Adoption Program. The charity has found homes for 55 horses during the past three years and Humane Society Director Jeff Dorson says the program is gaining in popularity…
cut 8 (11) “…few weeks”
Go to Facebook-dot-com-backslash-mardi-gras-horses to look at this year’s horses that are up for adoption.

Expect to see more law enforcement on the highways in an effort to crackdown on intoxicated Carnival goers who get behind the wheel….
cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Mardi Gras is not just for south Louisiana, there’s a children’s parade in Alexandria today and tomorrow it’s the 27th annual Krewes Parade. Alexandria Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesperson Anne Savage says while in town, get yourself some king cake.
Cut 13 (11) “…delicious.”