2:30 PM LRN Newscast

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for all of southeast Louisiana until 6:00 P.M. National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Efferson says due to high winds and dry conditions, it’s not the day for outdoor fires including outdoor grilling, but if you must grill, take precautions.

Cut 5 (06) “…yard for sure.”

The Red Flag Warning comes a day after high winds and dry conditions caused several fires throughout the state including a fire that spread to both sides of I-12 in St. Tammany Parish and caused the closure of the interstate for hours. Wildfires are also a problem in northwest Louisiana. Caddo Parish is under a strict burn ban due to severe drought and high wildfire risks. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain

Cut 8 (09) “…and Gum Swamp.”

One state lawmaker wants to put a stop to threats being made against schools. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Another Data Center is coming to Louisiana as Amazon increases its presence in the state. Amazon announced a $12 Billion Dollar investment for data center campuses in Bossier and Caddo Parishes that will support cloud computing technologies. The project is expected to create 540 new direct jobs and 1,700 indirect job opportunities. Along with the 12-billion-dollar investment, Amazon is launching a series of community and infrastructure initiatives in Northwest Louisiana. The tech giant invested 4.7 billion dollars in the state between 2010 and 2024.

1:30 PM LRN Newscast

The National Weather Service has issued another Red Flag Warning for all of southeast Louisiana today. High winds and dry conditions whipped up fires throughout the state yesterday burning several hundred acres in St. Tammany Parish in frightening scene that caused the closure of I-12 to for several hours as the fire jumped the interstate an spread to both sides. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain…

Cut 6 (10) “…on the ground.”

National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Efferson says today is not the day to be burning anything.

Cut 4 (10) “…very simple things.”

There were also large fires in Livingston and Webster Parishes. Caddo Parish is under a strict burn ban due to severe drought and high wildfire risks there.

A state lawmaker has filed a bill aimed at putting a stop to school threats. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson’s bill would increase the penalties for terrorizing and menacing schools – and parents would be held financially responsible. He says under his bill, all students will know about the state law and the consequences surrounding it – all in a way that they can understand.

Cut 10 (15) “…have severe consequences.”

A year-long narcotics investigation in Terrebonne Parish has resulted in multiple arrests and the largest methamphetamine seizure in the history of the sheriff’s office. Lt. Blake Tabor says those arrested range in ages 25 to 59.

Cut 13 (10) “…this case.”

12:30 LRN Newscast

Dry and windy conditions have increased the fire danger for Louisiana. LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has more..

Cut 1 (35) “…statewide.”

Yesterday, there were several hundred acres that were burning along I-12 in St. Tammany Parish. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain…

Cut 7 (08) “…of the Interstate”

 

With students posting threats against schools on social media in increasing numbers year after year, one state lawmaker has filed a bill aimed at putting a stop to it. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson’s bill would increase the penalty for terrorizing a school to 15-thousand dollars or up to 15 years in prison, and parents would be held financially responsible. Johnson says there would be certain instances where parents could face even more severe consequences.

Cut 9 (10)  “…them criminally liable.”

Johnson says under his bill, all students will know about the state law and the consequences surrounding it – all in a way that they can understand.

A year-long narcotics investigation in Terrebonne Parish has resulted in six arrests and the largest methamphetamine seizure in the history of the sheriff’s office, approximately 70 pounds. Lt. Blake Tabor says the coordinated operation also resulted in the recovery of significant quantities of other dangerous narcotics…

Cut 12 (06) “…if you will”

The six people arrested range in ages 25 to 59 and live in Houma, Gray and Schriever.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The top ranked LSU baseball team improved its record 8-0 with three wins in Jacksonville this past weekend. The Tigers completed the weekend with an 11 to nothing mercy rule victory over U-C-F as William Schmidt threw five shutout innings. Coach Jay Johnson says it was high quality baseball that is sustainable…

Cut 16 (16) “…three innings.”

Cade Arrambide hit his second home run in as many days. Derek Curiel and Jake Brown each drove in three runs.

It was also a good weekend on the diamond for Louisiana Tech and the Ragin Cajuns. The Bulldogs beat Ohio State twice and Memphis. U-L Lafayette swept Maryland and on Friday and Sunday, the Cajuns won in walk-off fashion, with freshman shortstop Blaze Rodriguez driving in the winning run.

The seventh ranked LSU women’s basketball team laid the hammer down on Missouri yesterday beating the Tigers 108 to 55. LSU had 72 rebounds and tied a program record for margin of victory in an SEC game. Freshman forward ZaKiyah Johnson had 17 points and career high 14 board. Mikaylah Williams, who didn’t play in the second half of last Thursday’s come from behind win over Ole Miss, had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Coach Kim Mulkey also likes what Williams did on the defensive end

Cut 20 (13) “…Florida really well.”

Grace Slaughter had 14 points on 3 of 12 shooting. LSU hosts Tennessee on Thursday.

The Winter Olympics are over in Italy. Norway won the most medals with 41. The U-S won 33 and the 12 gold medals are the most ever for the United States in the Winter Olympics.

11:30 LRN Newscast

The National Weather Service has issued another Red Flag Warning for all of southeast Louisiana today. National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Efferson says the warning is in effect until six this evening.

Cut 3 (06) “…and spread quickly.”

As such, you’re asked not to burn anything today; and if you smoke, don’t flick your cigarette butt out of your car window.

Louisiana classrooms are given the green light by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to put up Ten Commandments posters. This, after the full court vacated a three-judge panel’s earlier decision that found the state law requiring those classroom displays to be unconstitutional. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the full Fifth Circuit did not overturn the ruling; it instead said it was too soon for it to rule on whether it is or not.

Cut 13 (09)  “…in the abstract.”

President Trump has approved Governor Landry’s request for a Major Disaster declaration for nine parishes in north Louisiana from last month’s massive ice storm. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says the costs incurred by governments have been wide-ranging and massive, with much more still to come.

Cut 5 (11) “…type of thing.”

American Airlines adds an additional non-stop round-trip flight between Monroe Regional Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Monroe Regional Airport Director Charles Butcher says because of all the people traveling between the two cities for the Meta data center in Richland Parish and other projects, locals were getting squeezed out of the seats on the three existing daily round trips to and from DFW.

Cut 11 (06) “…are flying in.”

The additional round-trip gets underway April 7th.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Dry and windy conditions has sparked several grass and wilfdfires. Separate fires have burned 40 acres or more in Natchitoches and Caddo Parish. The situation got so bad in St. Tammany Parish that I-12 was closed for several hours yesterday because of all of the smoke.

President Trump approves Governor Landry’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for nine parishes in north Louisiana impacted by last month’s winter storm. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A federal appeals court has upheld a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says this by no means ends the case as the ACLU is expected to appeal the decision…

Cut 15 (12) “….to their context”

The ACLU says the displaying of the Ten Commandments in public classrooms violates the separation of church and state, as they say public schools exist to educate, not indoctrinate. But Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says don’t’ kill or steal should not be controversial.

A bill filed for the upcoming legislative session would allow the Louisiana Department of Ag to get involved in the testing of imported shrimp for banned antibiotics. Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, Blake Price, says only a very small percentage of imported shrimp is ever tested for banned antibiotics…

Cut 8(11) “….unfit for consumption”

The legislative session begins next month.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana classrooms are given the green light to start putting up the Ten Commandments posters. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Governor Jeff Landry will be in Shreveport later today to announce what his office calls a major economic development announcement. KTBS-TV is reporting that the state and local leaders are looking to open up three data centers in Caddo and Bossier Parishes.

 

A bill filed for the upcoming legislative session would add an additional layer in the fight against contaminated shrimp. Currently, the Louisiana Department of Health is the only state agency authorized to seize and destroy imported shrimp found to be contaminated at ports. Under a bill filed by Houma Representative Jessica Domangue, the Department of Ag would be added to that list. The bill has the support of Blake Price, the director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

Cut 7 (13) “…antibiotics and fungicide.”

Price says only a very small percentage of imported shrimp is ever tested for banned antibiotics.

American Airlines has added an additional non-stop round-trip flight between Monroe Regional Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The additional round-trip will be in the mid-morning hours and will get underway on April 7th. Monroe Regional Airport Director Charles Butcher hopes this is the continuation of additional economic development wins for the region.

Cut 12 (04) “…could lead to.”

8:30 AM LRN Newscast

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for all of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi from 9 AM to 6 PM today due to critical fire conditions caused by low humidity and gusty winds.  That after several fires across the state caused problems over the weekend, including an active fire in St. Tammany Parish that shut down I-12 between Abita Springs and Lacombe in St. Tammany Parish for three hours.

President Trump has approved Governor Landry’s request for a Major Disaster declaration for nine parishes in north Louisiana from last month’s massive winter storm. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says the declaration does not cover individuals at this point. But he says those who did sustain damage to their properties should report it to damage-dot-la-dot-gov.

Cut 6 (07) “…the federal government.”

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A bill in the legislature could add an extra layer of protection in imports of certain seafood. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Ten Commandments posters will start going up in Louisiana classrooms now based on a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a lower court’s decision ruling them unconstitutional was premature.  Loyala Law professor Dan Ciolino says there are still lots of questions.

Cut 14 (08) “…dangerous of that.”

 

7:30 AM LRN Newscast

President Trump approves Governor Landry’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for nine parishes impacted by last month’s winter storm. Here’s Andre Champagne.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

One person was killed and two were injured in an “industrial accident” at a Belle Rose plant on Sunday.  Assumption Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Paul LeBlanc says a crew was doing a routine pressure test on a brine well at the GIE plant off Grand Bayou Road when a loose hose struck three people, killing one. The other two were air lifted to the hospital.

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Louisiana classrooms are given the green light by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to put up Ten Commandments posters. This, after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a three-judge panel’s earlier decision that found the state law requiring those classroom displays to be unconstitutional. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the full Fifth Circuit did not overturn the ruling; it instead said it was too soon for it to rule on whether it is or not.

Cut 13 (09)  “…in the abstract.”

American Airlines adds an additional non-stop round-trip flight between Monroe Regional Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Monroe Regional Airport Director Charles Butcher says locals were getting squeezed out of the seats on the three existing daily round trips to and from DFW.

Cut 11 (06) “…are flying in.”

 

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The top ranked LSU baseball team improved to 8-and-0 with three wins in Jacksonville over Indiana, Notre Dame and U-C-F.  Yesterday, the Tigers blanked the Knights 11 to nothing as William Schmidt pitched five shutout innings, striking out seven, walking one and allowing just three hits…

Cut 17 (23) “…watch out”

Cade Arrambide hit two home runs over the weekend and yesterday Derek Curiel and Jake Brown each drove in three runs.

La Tech had a 3-0 weekend in Memphis the Cajuns swept Maryland with a six to five win in 15 innings on Sunday.

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The seventh ranked LSU women’s basketball team set a school record in the NCAA women’s basketball championship era by grabbing 72 rebounds in their 108-55 thumping of the Missouri Tigers. Coach Kim Mulkey went with a smaller lineup and it resulted in everyone helping out on the glass..

Cut 19  (09) “…to watch.”

MiLaysia Fulwiley (my-LAY-zhuh full-WHY-lee) led LSU with 22 points and 11 rebounds. LSU hosts Tennessee on Thursday.

Louisiana Tech has won the Conference USA regular season title. It’s the Lady Techsters first outright conference championship in 15 years and the 38th title in program history.

The McNeese women has also won the Southland Conference title. It’s the third time the Cowgirls have done that and their first Southland championship since 2011. McNeese has won a school record 17 in a row.