6:30 LRN Newscast February 17

Legislation has been filed for the upcoming session that would eliminate the need to have a concealed carry license in order to possess a concealed handgun in Louisiana. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says open carry is already legal in Louisiana, and requiring people to get a permit to cover up that gun is just a tax.
Cut 7 (09) “…call it.”
Opponents of the legislation will say concealed handgun permit classes help to ensure gun owners are responsible and informed.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed an executive order that establishes an Advisory Council on Rural Revitalization. Louisiana Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson is on the Council and he says they will identify the challenges rural Louisiana faces like broadband internet availability….
Cut 14 (08) “…have better service”
The Council will develop and submit a comprehensive strategic plan to the Governor by January 5th.

Louisiana’s U-S Senators voted differently on a resolution to limit the President’s power to order military action against Iran. Senator John Kennedy voted against it, but Senator Bill Cassidy voted for it. Cassidy says a previous decision by the Obama administration to bomb Libya helped shape his vote….
cut 5 (11) “…a war”
The measure is expected to pass the House as well, but President Donald Trump has vowed to veto it.

The Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in Winnfield welcomed six individuals into its hall of fame this past weekend, including longtime Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields and Rapides Sheriff William Hilton.

LRN AM Newscall February 17

The Senate votes to advance a measure limiting the President’s authority to engage in acts of war against Iran. Matt Doyle spoke with one of the measure’s supporters Senator Bill Cassidy…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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An Oil City Representative thinks it’s time for the state to do away with the need to have concealed carry licenses to carry a concealed handgun. Brooke Thorington has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

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Gov. Edwards signs an executive order formally establishing the Governor’s Advisory Council on Rural Revitalization.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

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Senator Bill Cassidy is one of seven Republicans to join Senate Democrats in voting to limit the President’s authority to take military action against Iran.

Cassidy says the vote was not a slight to President Trump, he just feels Congress needs to reclaim its responsibility in deciding when to head to war and make sure any decision has public support.

Cut 4 (10) “…united”

The measure cleared the Senate 55-45 and heads to the House next, where a similar bill was passed earlier this year.

Cassidy cited The Obama Administration’s decision to bomb Libya as a prime example of executive branch overreach in making decisions that will lead to war.

Cut 5 (11)  “…a war”

President Trump has vowed to veto the measure, and Louisiana’s other Senator, John Kennedy, voted against it.

Cassidy says the measure would not have prevented the President from taking action like the decision earlier this year to bomb an Iranian General, because…

Cut 6 (05) “…permissible”

The wording calls for the termination of the President’s ability to use the military against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or use of force.

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Legislation has been filed for the upcoming session that would eliminate the need to have a concealed carry license in order to carry a concealed handgun in Louisiana.

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says open carry is already legal in Louisiana, and requiring people to get a permit to cover up that gun is just a tax.

Cut 7 (09) “…call it.”

McCormick says putting additional barriers between legal gun owners and their right to carry in public is infringing on basic American rights.

Cut 8 (12) “…worship.”

The legislation still requires a concealed carrier be legal to own firearms. Opponents argue concealed carry creates additional public risk, and so the licensing classes exist to ensure gun owners are responsible and informed enough to concealed carry. McCormick disagrees.

Cut 9 (04) “…per say.″

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A 2019 report on from True Colors United and the National Law Center for Homelessness ranks Louisiana in the top ten among the fifty states and District of Columbia in its efforts to address youth homelessness.  Report co-author Dylan Waguespack says the state has an advantage over others from spearheading the issue with the legislation in the ’90s.

Cut 10 (06) “…a new issue.”

Louisiana is ranked 7th, up one spot from last year.  Among the areas where Louisiana excels include providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently, and the state’s foster care, where those in the program can now receive benefits through the age of 21 instead of 18.

Cut 11 (08) “…their 18th birthday.”

Waguespack says there is room for improvement, indicating limiting opportunities for contact between youth experiencing homelessness and the juvenile and criminal justice systems should be prioritized.

Cut 12 (07) “…a young person.”

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Gov. Edwards signs an executive order formally establishing the Governor’s Advisory Council on Rural Revitalization.  Louisiana Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson is one of the 34 people appointed to that council and he says the work is important because many of the rural areas are drying up.

Cut 13 (11) “…these rural areas.”

Anderson says the expansion of broadband internet availability is an opportunity to help the rural areas become a more attractive place to live and work.

Cut 14 (08) “…have better service”

The council will develop and submit a comprehensive strategic plan to the Governor on January 5th, 2021 and will supply annual progress reports thereafter.  The council will also have duties in advising the Governor on the needs, issues of concern, and solutions linked to rural revitalization.

Cut 15 (08) “…our products around.”

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The 11th ranked LSU baseball team opened the 2020 season by taking two of three from Indiana. The Hoosiers avoided the sweep with a seven to two win on Saturday night. It was a close game in the eighth inning, but LSU failed to turn a double play on a ground ball to shortstop Hal Hughes. The mistake led to an unearned run and Coach Paul Mainieri says they learned some lessons during the first weekend…

Cut 16  (20)  …the kids”  

LSU hit three home runs over the weekend. Freshman Cade Doughty hit a dinger in his first college at bat. Mainieri liked what he saw from the rookie second baseman…

Cut 17  (20) “player” 

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Louisiana Tech men’s basketball improved to 10-and-4 in Conference USA play on Saturday with an 81-68 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday. Before the game, the Dunkin Dogs recognized their four seniors and all of them played well in the win

cut 18  (15) “different ways”   

Senior guard Derric Jean led the way with a career-high 21 points. The Miami native says he wanted to play well…

cut 19 (12)  W”  

10:30 LRN Newscast Feb 15

The 8-year-old boy shot Tuesday in drive-by shooting in New Iberia. died Friday night at a Baton Rouge hospital.  The victim, Jamal Robinson, was the only person injured when Jonas Hawk shot rounds into a group of people outside of a home on N. Neco Town Rd.  Charges against Hawk will be upgraded to 14 counts of Attempted First-Degree Murder and 1 count of First Degree Murder.

The Senate votes to advance a measure limiting the President’s authority to engage in acts of war against Iran 55-45. Matt Doyle spoke with one of the measure’s supporters Senator Bill Cassidy…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A report by the Advocate alleges Attorney General Jeff Landry, brought in skilled Mexican laborers on work visas to construct an LNG plant in Cameron Parish using the H2B skilled worker visa program, which is opposed by both the Trump administration and labor unions. Advocate reporter Bryn Stole says there is no definitive proof Landry broke the law, but they did uncover documents indicating his companies may have misled the feds to get access to the visas.

Cut 11 (05) “…the law.”

A spokesperson for Landry says the work was only temporary.

Gov. Edwards signs an executive order formally establishing the Governor’s Advisory Council on Rural Revitalization.  Louisiana Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson says the expansion of broadband internet availability is an opportunity to help the rural areas become a more attractive place to live and work.

Cut 14 (08) “…have better service”

 

9:30 LRN Newscast Feb 15

State Police are asking for help locating a 12-year old girl after her grandmother abducted her at gunpoint from a hospital in Jefferson Parish Friday. A Child Endangerment Alert has been issued for Andreana Miller, who was last seen in a hospital gown leaving with her grandmother, 66-year old Evelyn Miller. Police are urging anyone with information to contact them.

An Advocate report accuses Attorney General Jeff Landry, known for his hardline stance on immigration, of bringing in Mexican workers to help build a plant in Cameron Parish…

cut  2 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Senator Bill Cassidy is one of seven Republicans to join Senate Democrats in voting to limit the President’s authority to take military action against Iran. Cassidy says the vote was not a slight to President Trump, he just feels Congress needs to reclaim its responsibility in deciding when to head to war and make sure any decision has public support.

Cut 4 (10) “…united”

Gov. Edwards signs an executive order formally establishing the Governor’s Advisory Council on Rural Revitalization.  Louisiana Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson is one of the thirty-four people appointed to that council and he says the work is important because many of the rural areas are drying up.

Cut 13 (11) “…these rural areas.”

 

8:30 LRN Newscast Feb 15

State Police have issued a Child Endangerment Alert in Jefferson Parish after a 12-year old girl was abducted at gunpoint from Ochsner Hospital. Police say Andreana Miller was last seen Friday in a hospital gown when her grandmother, 66-year old Evelyn Miller, took her from the hospital. The vehicle they used to flee has been recovered but there are whereabouts are unknown; police are urging anyone with information to contact them.

A report by the Advocate alleges Attorney General Jeff Landry, who is staunch on anti-immigration, brought in skilled Mexican laborers on work visas to construct an LNG plant in Cameron Parish. Landry political advisor Brent Littlefield says yes, the AG did help bring foreign workers, but it was only temporary.

Cut 9 (12) “…on track″

Former LSU baseball coach and athletic director Skip Bertman suffered a couple broken ribs from a during a single-car accident on Friday morning in Baton Rouge, according to an LSU spokesman. Bertman, 81, did not require an overnight hospital stay, and he did not attend LSU’s season-opening game last night.

Former LSU QB Joe Burrow now has a baby giraffe named after him at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

7:30 LRN Sportscast

For the 19th straight year, LSU starts a baseball season with a victory. The 11th ranked Tigers defeated Indiana eight to one as Saul Garza and Cade Doughty homered. Doughty’s home run came on his first at bat in an LSU uniform. Cole Henry struck out eight over four innings for the win. Because of the chance of rain on Sunday, the two teams will play a doubleheader today starting at 1 PM.

There was a lot of emotion last night in Lafayette for the Ragin Cajuns first game since the passing of their longtime head coach Tony Robichaux. But U-L Lafayette could not come away with a victory as Southeastern Louisiana scored three runs in the sixth inning and held on for a three to two win.

Elsewhere, ULM downed Southeast Missouri State five to one. Ty Barnes pitched six strong innings for the win. Northwestern State cruahed Wichita State 11 to nothing, McNeese defeated MIssissippi VAlley State 9-zip and George Washington beat Nicholls seven to three.

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Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson had 14 points in 20 minutes as he helped the U-S team beat the World team 151 to 131 in the Rising Stars Game in Chicago. Williamson had a monster slam in the second quarter that actually left the backboard slightly tilted to its left. A maintenance worker fixed the basket during half-time.

Today in college basketball..25th ranked LSU is at Alabama for a 3 PM tip-off. The Tigers enter action today in a three-way tie for first place with Kentucky and Auburn. Auburn is at Missouri, while the Wildcats host Ole Miss. LSU won in Tuscaloosa last season and if they win again today, they’ll have back-to-back victories in T-town for the first time in 30 years.

Also today, Louisiana Tech hosts Florida Atlantic. The Owls have lost three in a row. Southeastern will try to snap a five-game losing streak at Nicholls, while McNeese will look to end a three-game skid at Northwestern State.

ULM who ended a 10-game losing steak on Thursday is at South Alabama today, while the Ragin Cajuns is at Troy

530 PM LRN News

A report by the Advocate alleges Attorney General Jeff Landry, who rails against immigration issues, brought in skilled Mexican laborers on work visas to construct an LNG plant in Cameron Parish. Advocate reporter Bryn Stole says there is no definitive proof Landry broke the law in these dealings, but they did uncover documents indicating his companies may have misled the feds to get access to the visas.

Cut 11 (05) “…the law.”

A Landry spokesperson says the investigation was bogus, and Landry did not break any laws.

71-year-old Robert Blair has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of manslaughter for the 1989 disappearance of his wife, Isabelle and her friend Marian Coutee. Rapides Sheriff Earl Hilton wonders how Robert Blair lived with himself all of these years

Cut 7 (07) “…did it.”

Former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow may have collected many accolades during his time as a Tiger, but he now has a new honor thanks to the Baton Rouge Zoo who named a baby giraffe after him. Zoo spokesperson Robyn Lott says they held a vote for what the next name would be, and it raised over 2,000 dollars.

Cut 4 (07) “…for the zoo.”

Burreaux is on exhibit Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. 

A carjacking suspect is dead after being shot during an altercation with Bossier City Police on Thursday.  State Police is now investigating the incident. Trooper Brent Hardy says A Bossier City permit inspector underwent surgery today after suffering a broken shoulder during the initial carjacking attempt at the hands of the deceased.

Cut 15 (07) “…active and ongoing.”

4:30 PM Newscast

A report by the Advocate alleges Attorney General Jeff Landry, who rails against immigration issues, brought in skilled Mexican laborers to construct an LNG plant in Cameron Parish. Landry political advisor Brent Littlefield says yes, the AG did help bring foreign workers to the job site, but it was only temporary.
Cut 9 (12) “…on track″
The paper did not accuse Landry of breaking any laws, but did note he did business with a Houston man who plead guilty to fraudulently bringing over 1,000 Mexican workers into the country.

Former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is honored at the Baton Rouge Zoo, who named a giraffe after him.  Zoo spokesperson Robyn Lott says of the three choices “Burreaux” was a popular pick.

Cut 3 (07)  “…in this area. 

Through the voting, the zoo was able to raise over $2000 for conservation efforts.

A carjacking suspect is dead after being shot during an altercation with Bossier City Police on Thursday.  State Police is now investigating the incident.  Trooper Brent Hardy says an officer responded to an attempted carjacking near the CenturyLink center.

Cut 13 (12) “…the subject was shot.”

The suspect was identified as 42-year-old Jeremy Fox of Bossier City.

71-year-old Robert Blair, a retired farmer, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of manslaughter for the 1989 disappearance of his wife, Isabelle and her friend Marian Coutee. Rapides Sheriff Earl Hilton credits the D-A’s office for prosecuting the case quickly after Robert Blair was arrested last October

Cut 6 (09) “the record”

Deputies got enough evidence to arrest Blair after the truck the victims were last seen riding in, was found on property once owned by Blair.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The road to Omaha begins today as the college baseball season gets underway tonight. The 11th ranked Fighting Tigers will face Indiana at 7 PM. Two freshmen are in the opening day lineup, second baseman Cade Doughty and Shreveport’s Hayden Travinski is tonight’s designated hitter. Coach Paul Mainieri on what he likes from these two kids…
cut 17 (10) “…hit well”
Sophomore right-hander Cole Henry will start on the mound. He was 4-and-2 with a 3.39 ERA last year. Since rain is in the forecast on Sunday, the two teams will wrap up the series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 1 PM.

Tonight is the first game for the Ragin Cajuns baseball program since the death of legendary head coach Tony Robichaux. Fans are asked to arrive early for tonight’s game for a pregame tribute to Coach Robe.

Three players from the Pelicans will compete in tonight’s NBA Rising Stars game as part of the All-Star Festivities in Chicago. Zion Williamson is on the U-S Team and Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Nicolo Melli will play for the World Team.

Tomorrow in college basketball, 25th ranked LSU is at Alabama. The Tigers will look to stay in first place. Louisiana Tech hosts Florida Atlantic. The Owls have lost three in a row. Southeastern will try to snap a five-game losing streak at Nicholls, while McNeese will look to end a three-game skid at Northwestern State.

Former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow may have collected many accolades during his time as a Tiger, but he now has a new honor thanks to the Baton Rouge Zoo. Zoo spokesperson Robyn Lott says the public nominated and then voted on the top three names for a baby giraffe and “Burreaux” was the one to stick.
Cut 3 (07) “…in this area.

2:30 LRN Newscast

An Advocate report accuses Attorney General Jeff Landry, known for his hardline stance on immigration, of bringing in Mexican workers to help build a plant in Cameron Parish…
cut 2 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor Edwards budget proposal for next fiscal year calls on the legislature to approve nearly a million dollars in pay raises for his staff, Cabinet secretaries and other high-level political appointees. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says these employees have not seen a raise since 2016.

State Police has identified the man fatally shot in yesterday’s police shooting in Bossier city. L-S-P says 42-year-old Jeremy Fox of Bossier City was shot after a struggle with an officer in the parking lot of the CenturyLink Center. Trooper Brent Hardy says the officer intervened because Fox tried to a carjack a vehicle belonging to a Bossier City permit inspector…
cut 15 (07) “…active and ongoing”
The carjacking victim had surgery on his should, but he’s expected to recover.

71-year-old Robert Blair is heading to Angola to serve a 40-year prison sentence for the 1989 disappearance of his wife, Isabelle and friend Marian Coutee. Blair was arrested in October and Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Christopher Bowman says Blair confessed to killing the two in self-defense, and the victims’ families were fine with the sentencing…
cut 8 (12) “…40 years”