8:30 LRN Newscast March 3

The state legislature will soon consider a bill that prohibits transgender athletes who were assigned as a male at birth to play on women’s sports teams. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says female sports are a women’s rights issue and should be for biological women only.
Cut 13 (09) “…for women.”
Louisiana Trans Advocates President Dylan Waguespack opposes the bill and says a similar ban already exists at the high school level, but this would target all Louisiana trans students.
Cut 15 (12) “…with”
The regular session begins Monday and this could be one of the hot button issues of the session.

Governor Edwards will once again push the state legislature to raise the minimum wage. Edwards also supports a bill by Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Carpenter that would prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who discuss their salaries with co-workers. He also wants to see laws passed to reduce the pay gap between men and women
cut 8 (09) “…employer”
Similar bills have failed to pass in the Republican-controlled legislature.

Today is Super Tuesday and if you want to vote in the April 4th Louisiana Presidential Primary, you need to be registered Democrat or Republican. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin…
cut 6 (11) “….for Republicans”
Ardoin says the deadline to register in person is tomorrow, but you have until March 14th to register online at geaux-vote-dot-com.

7:30 LRN Newscast March 3rd

Governor Edwards names his three non-budgetary legislative priorities for the year. Matt Doyle has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Legislation has been filed for the upcoming session that would ban transgender girls from playing on organized female sports teams. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says there are cases where transgender girls are outperforming biological females…
cut 14 (08) “…against that”

Voter registration deadlines for the April 4th Presidential primary are fast approaching. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic Presidential Primary and only Republicans in the GOP Primary. Ardoin says the deadline for in person or by mail registration for the primary is tomorrow and…
Cut 4 (09)_ “…registration.”
Early voting begins March 21st.

The search for a missing deaf and mute elderly Ville Platte woman has had a sad conclusion.
cut 11 (07) “…remoted”
The 72-year-old’s body was along a stretch of Interstate 49 between Sunset and Opelousas. She had been missing since Wednesday. 53-year-old Phillip DeWoody of Opelousas was arrested Friday on kidnapping charges and authorities are expected to now charge him with murder.

Updated LRN AM newscall ###corrected early voting dates in Ardoin story###

Deadlines to register to vote in the upcoming Presidential Primary in Louisiana are fast approaching. Brooke Thorington spoke with Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_____________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards names his three non-budgetary legislative priorities for the year. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

___________________________________________

A Franklinton Senator brings legislation that would bar trans women from playing women’s sports at Louisiana schools. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

____________________________________________

With voter registration deadlines fast approaching, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding Louisianans that only registered Democrats and Republicans are eligible to vote in the upcoming Presidential Primary or April 4th.  Ardoin says the Deadline for in person or by mail registration for the primary is tomorrow…

Cut 4 (09)_ “…registration.”

Ardoin says early voting will begin Saturday, March 21 and end Saturday March 28th, except for Sunday, March 23rd.

Cut 5 (12)  “…April 4th.”

There are 24 parishes that will have local elections on the ballot and are open to eligible voters., regardless to party. However, if you plan to vote in the Presidential Primary, Ardoin says the respective parties have established rules.

Cut 6 (11) “…for Republicans.”

For more information visit www.GeauxVote.com

____________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards laid out his top legislative priorities yesterday at the Baton Rouge Press Club, naming minimum wage, pay secrecy, and auto insurance as his primary, non-budgetary focuses.

Edwards threw his weight behind New Orleans Senator Troy Carter’s minimum wage bill that would lift the state from 7.25 to nine an hour by January 2021 and ten dollars an hour by July 2021.

Cut 7 (09) “…on that”

Edwards made raising the minimum wage a pillar of his 2015 election, and 2019 reelection efforts.

The Governor is also back supporting a push to prevent employers from firing workers who openly discuss their salary with other workers, and allow workers to keep their previous job’s pay secret.

Cut 8 (09) “employer”

He came out in favor of a series of bills by Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau that bars auto insurance companies from charging customers more based on their gender, credit, or military service.

Cut 9 (10) “…to do″

Republicans are pushing to lower the jury trial threshold to 15,000 dollars, but Edwards says he believes the current 50,000 dollar level is adequate.

____________________

State Police have found the body of a missing deaf and mute Ville Platte woman and have made an arrest in the case. Trooper Thomas Gossen says 53-year old Phillip Dewoody of Opelousas has been arrested in connection with her disappearance.

Cut 10 (11) “…was his photo.”

Search teams found the body of Joyce Thomas along I-49 between Sunset and Opelousas. Gossen says he is unsure of a previous connection between the victim and the suspect, adding the woman had been reported missing on February 26th.

Cut 11 (07) “…a remote wooded area.”

The Advocate newspaper reports that court documents show the suspect has been in and out of prison after convictions including two armed robberies and escaping prison at knifepoint.

Cut 12 (10) “…with his background.”

________________________________

The legislature will consider a bill that bans schools from allowing transgender athletes who were not assigned as a woman at birth to play on women’s sports teams.

The legislation was brought by Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell who says women’s sports are a women’s rights issue and should be for women only.

Cut 13 (09) “…for women.”

She says she’s concerned about the competitive advantage that trans women have over someone who was assigned female at birth.

Cut 14 (08) “…that.”

Louisiana Trans Advocates President Dylan Waguespack opposes the bill and says a similar ban functionally already exists at the high school level, but this would target all Louisiana trans students.

Cut 15 (12) “…with”

Waguespack says the legislation, and it’s companion bill in the House, is imported from radical national anti-trans groups, and is discriminatory.

Cut 16  (11)  …can’t’   

The bill provides for the “Save Women’s Sports Act”.

6:45 LRN Sportscast March 3

21st ranked LSU returns to the baseball diamond tonight after getting no-hit on Sunday as the Bayou Bengals host Southeastern Louisiana. Strikeouts have been a big problem. The Tigers struck out 34 times in three games in Houston this past weekend. The Lions come into tonight’s game with a five and six record. The first pitch is at 6:30.

Louisiana Tech’s Steele Netterville has been named Conference USA Hitter of the Week. Netterville hit four home runs and drove in 14 runs last week. The Shreveport native hit two home runs in Sunday’s 26-3 thumping of the Maine Black Bears. Tech is at Sam Houston State tonight.

The Ragin Cajuns are also in Texas tonight as U-L Lafayette will visit Rice. Both teams are off to a slow start, U-L Lafayette is 4-and-8, while the Owls are two and eight.

Nine and two ULM hosts Jackson State. Northwestern State is bringing a nine and two record to Baton Rouge as the Demons visit Southern. Nicholls will host Valparaiso.

The Memphis Grizzlies won last night, extending their lead to 3.5 games over the Pelicans for the final spot in the Western Conference Playoffs. The Pelicans host Minnesota tonight and then travel to Dallas on Wednesday. We’ll see if rookie Zion Williamson will miss one of these two games since they are back-to-back.

Last night, Grambling got crushed by Mississippi Valley State 81-61. Tonight, the Cajuns host Coastal Carolina, who is averaging 78 points per game. ULM faces Appalachian State at 7 PM at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

The SEC announces that LSU’s Spring Game on April 18th will kick off at noon on ESPN Two. The game will take place on Southern University’s campus due to the resurfacing of the field in Tiger Stadium.

ULM opens spring practice today in the search of a new starting quarterback. It’s a wide-open competition between sophomore Colby Suits, junior college transfer Jeremy Hunt, walk-on Garrett Hable and former Sterlington star Hayes Crockett.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Edwards will once again push to raise Louisiana’s minimum wage in the upcoming legislative session. During an appearance at the Baton Rouge Press Club, Edwards announced his support to New Orleans Senator Troy Carter’s bill that would lift the minimum wage from 7.25 to nine dollars an hour by January 2021 and ten dollars an hour by July 2021.
Cut 7 (09) “…on that”
The proposal faces strong opposition from business organizations.

Criminal charges will soon be upgraded for 53-year-old Phillip Dewoody, who is in custody in connection with the disappearance of Joyce Thomas of Ville Platte. The 72-year-old’s body was found Monday along Interstate-49. State Trooper Thomas Gossen says a surveillance photo from her apartment complex shows that Dewoody was the last person with her…
cut 10 (11) “…was his photo”
Dewoody is also facing a second-degree kidnapping charge from a separate case.

Legislation has been filed in the House and Senate that would bar trans women from playing women’s sports at Louisiana schools. Matt Doyle has the story…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

5:30 PM Newscast

Gov Edwards addresses members of the Baton Rouge Press club about the formation of the state’s response to the coronavirus. Brooke Thorington has more.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

State Police have found the body of a missing deaf and mute Ville Platte woman and have made an arrest in the case. Search teams found the body of Jody Thomas along I-49 between Sunset and Opelousas. Phillip Dewoody has been arrested in connection with her death.

 

The investigation continues today into the weekend house fire in Alexandria that killed four people, including three children. Alexandria Fire Department Chief Larry King says the deadly blaze started late Saturday night in the living-dining room and no one was able to escape

Cut 5 (11)  “…the fire.”

The family has identified the victims as 48-year-old Verlana Cooper, seven-year-old Jayda Cooper, four-year-old Brooklyn Cooper, and four-month-old Dreya Russaw.

One person is dead after being shot in the chest with a crossbow and two others have been arrested by Caddo Parish deputies in connection to the killing.  Caddo Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says the body was discovered by two teens shortly after 4PM Saturday near Wallace Lake in Shreveport. Chadwick says the body was left near the parking lot at Cameron Park early Friday morning.

Cut 8 (10) “…teenagers found it.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The Pelicans 122 to 114 loss to the Lakers last night means that New Orleans has lost all four games this season to the top seed in the Western Conference. Coach Alvin Gentry…
cut 30 (23) “…that team”
The Pelicans could face the Lakers in the first round, but they’ll need to get in the postseason. Last night’s loss, puts New Orleans three games back of Memphis for the final playoff spot in the West.

The SEC announces that LSU’s Spring Game on April 18th will kick off at noon on ESPN Two. The game will take place on Southern University’s campus due to the resurfacing of the field in Tiger Stadium.

History was made yesterday and not in a good way for the LSU baseball team, who failed to record a hit in yesterday’s one to nothing loss to Oklahoma. It’s the first time the Tigers have been no-hit in a nine-inning game. Coach Paul Mainieri…
cut 29 (17) “…another week”
LSU has a busy week coming up as they are scheduled to play five games, starting tomorrow night when they host Southeastern Louisiana.

Louisiana Tech’s Steele Netterville has been named Conference USA Hitter of the Week. Netterville hit four home runs and drove in 14 runs last week. The Shreveport native hit two home runs in yesterday’s 26-3 thumping of the Main Black Bears. Tech is at Sam Houston State on Tuesday.

430PM LRN News

Investigators say it may take several days before they determine a cause to a fatal fire in Alexandria on Saturday night that killed four people, including three children…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

While there have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards announces the creation of a coronavirus task force. The Governor says it’s a matter of when, not if we find a case, and when we do he will let you know.

Cut 11 (11) “…announce that”

Houma Republican Tanner Magee files a House bill that would allow local companies to use independent contractors to deliver alcohol, whereas previously you had to be an hourly employee of the delivery company. Magee says his bill is important because of the state’s need to keep up with modern times adding one of the problems that have held the state back is the unwillingness to change.

Cut 15 (11) “…the United States.”

One person is dead after being shot in the chest with a crossbow and two others have been arrested by Caddo Parish deputies in connection to the killing.  Caddo Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says the body was discovered by two teens shortly after 4PM Saturday near Wallace Lake in Shreveport.

Cut 6 (04) “…to come out.”

The victim has been identified as 33-year-old Rodney Christopher Nordby and the two arrested have been identified as 24-year-old Daniel Haire and 27-year-old Dillon Brown.

330PM LRN News

Federal and state officials are ramping up preparation efforts for a possible Coronavirus outbreak in Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards reports there are a few dozen people in Louisiana who have recently visited coronavirus epicenters and have been asked to stay in their homes for a 14 day period to make sure they don’t show signs of infection. Edwards says they will inform the public if a Louisiana case is discovered, and only trust official sources like LDH and CDC when seeking out virus news.

Cut 12 (08) “…the facts.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is proposing legislation that would change telehealth practices so doctors can send healthcare workers out to those who feel they might have the symptoms of the virus, so they out of waiting rooms and not expose others.

Cut 9 (12) “…infection″

The number of cases in America is at 90.

One person is dead after being shot in the chest with a crossbow and two others have been arrested. The victim has been identified as 33-year-old Rodney Christopher Nordby and the two arrested have been identified as 24-year-old Daniel Haire and 27-year-old Dillon Brown. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says the victim was shot Thursday night during a dispute at Haire’s home.

Cut 7 (09) “…of the body.”

Houma Republican Tanner Magee files a House bill that would allow local companies to use independent contractors to deliver alcohol. Rouses Supermarket facilitates deliveries through independent contractors. Recent changes for food delivery service Waitr now follow that same model. However, Magee says originally, Waitr had its delivery methods in compliance with the current law.

Cut 14 (10) “…Rouses’ business model.”

2:30 LRN Newscast March 2

Today at the Baton Rouge Press Club Governor Edwards announced the creation of a coronavirus task force and says if a case develops in Louisiana it will be announced by his administration…

Cut 11 (11) “…announce that”

Edwards encourages citizens not to panic over the news of the reported deaths in the U-S but to gather facts from reputable sources like the CDC and the Louisiana Department of Public Health.

And Senator Bill Cassidy says after his experience with Katrina, he’s proposing a federal bank account where public health has immediate access to funds in order to speed its response.

Cut 10 (12) “care of”

The investigation continues today into the weekend house fire in Alexandria that killed four people, including three children. Alexandria Fire Department Chief Larry King says the deadly blaze started late Saturday night and half the home was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived…

Cut 3 (10)  “…family sake”  

Houma Republican Tanner Magee files a House bill that would allow companies to use independent contractors to deliver alcohol. Current law says alcohol home deliveries have to be conducted by an hourly-wage employee of the business.

Cut 13 (10) “…deliver their products.”

Rouses Supermarket facilitates deliveries through independent contractors. Recent changes for food delivery service Waitr now follow that same model.