1230PM LRN News

Beginning Monday, Louisiana abortion clinics will be required to have admitting privileges at a local hospital, that after a Friday ruling from the New Orleans based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Attorney General Jeff Landry says his office has been proud to defend the law that was passed in 2014, nearly unanimously, in the Louisiana Legislature.

Cut 9 (11) “common sense″

Act 620 was held up for years after the Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Texas in 2016. The 5th Circuit in September determined the Louisiana law was different enough to warrant a rehearing.

Governor John Bel Edwards has sent a written letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking him and the owners to change the rules to prevent another officiating disaster. There’s been a report the NFL competition committee will look during the offseason at instant replay review for pass interference. Edwards believes it should be

Cut 4 (09) “…happening again″

Governor John Bel Edwards re-election effort is officially underway with campaign stops today in Lafayette. Meanwhile, Republican challenger and Congressman Ralph Abraham holds a lunchtime fundraiser in Lake Providence. But Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the other announced GOP challenger, Eddie Rispone, is the X-factor, because he can self-fund much of his campaign…

Cut 7 (12) “…hard to do”

Pinsonat says despite good approval ratings it’s not a sure thing that Edwards will be re-elected.

and now commodities.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The 25th ranked LSU Tigers shoot for their eighth straight victory tonight when they host Georgia. The Tigers are 4-0 in league play, the Bulldogs are 1-and-4. But Coach Will Wade says his team better not be complacent…
cut 17 (18) “..play better”
Tip-off is at 6 PM.

Governor Edwards has fired off a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell urging him and the owners to change the rules so that another team doesn’t get robbed at its chance of playing in a Super Bowl…
cut 5 (11) “…problem is”
The NFL competition committee will reportedly discuss whether pass interference should be the subject of an instant replay review.

Saints cornerback PJ Williams has been arrested on a D-W-I charge. New Orleans police say he was driving 80 miles per hour on the Crescent City Connection Bridge. The speed limit on that bridge is 50 miles per hour.

The LHSAA Annual Convention is underway in Baton Rouge. A vote could take place Friday on a proposal to allow private schools to hold state championship games at venues other than the Superdome for football or Sulphur for baseball and softball. Basketball title games could also be held at a site closer to the school with the higher seed. But LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine believes the Association’s constitution doesn’t allow for this proposal to happen…
cut 13 (09) “…gonna play”
Supporters say of the split championship sites say it will lead to better revenues for the schools, shoter travel and a chance to set a more convenient game time.

The Pelicans are home tonight to take on the Detroit Pistons. Anthony Davis remains out with an injured finger.

11:30 LRN Newscast January 23

Governor John Bel Edwards re-election effort is officially underway with campaign stops today in Lafayette. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says despite good approval ratings it’s not a sure thing that Edwards will be re-elected..
cut 6 (10) “”….Louisiana”
Meanwhile, Republican challenger and Congressman Ralph Abraham holds a lunchtime fundraiser in Lake Providence.

Saints defensive back P.J. Williams has been arrested on drunk driving accusations. New Orleans Police say Williams was traveling 80 miles per hour on the Crescent City Connection Bridge when the speed limit is 50 miles per hour.

The silence continues from the NFL’s Commissioner’s office. The league has not said anything official about the missed pass interference call in the NFC Championship game. Governor Edwards wrote a letter to Goodell that says Saints fans will never forget.

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp regulation on a state level, so could we see it legalized in Louisiana? Matt Doyle talked to one group pushing to make it happen…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

We are seeing heavy rainfall in the Monroe and Alexandria areas as another cold front sweeps through Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says once the cold front moves through, temperatures will drop….
cut 9 (07) “….across northern parishes”
Temperatures are in the mid 30s in northwest Louisiana.

10:30 LRN Newscast January 23

A New Orleans attorney has filed a lawsuit in an effort to get NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to invoke a rule that gives him authority to say a game should be replayed because of the missed pass interference call in the final two minutes of the NFC Championship game. Lawyer Frank D’Amico…
cut 15 (10) “…from that point”
Governor John Bel Edwards has written a letter to Goodell asking him and the owners to change the rules to make sure another obvious, blatant and intentional penalty at the end of a championship game doesn’t go uncalled again….
cut 3 (04) “…the league”
There’s been a report the NFL competition committee will look during the offseason on whether pass interference should be the subject of an instant replay review.

Saints defensive back P-J Williams has been charged with a D-W-I. New Orleans Police say Williams was going 80 in a 50 mile per hour zone.

Another cold front is moving through the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 7 (08) “….said and done”
And just like on Saturday, temperatures will drop. High temperatures only in the 40s for north and central Louisiana today and we’ll see freezing temps for much of the state tomorrow morning.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association annual convention gets underway today and there’s a proposal on the table to allow the private schools, hold championship events in football, basketball, baseball and softball at sites that are in different locations from public schools. Teurlings Catholic principal Mike Boyer says ideally, “select” teams could host the championship at the higher seeded team’s home field to save on rental costs.
Cut 10 (10) “non-revenue sports”
LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine doesn’t like the idea of having football championship games outside of the Superdome.

9:30 LRN Newscast January 23

Stormy weather is impacting the Monroe area this morning as another cold front sweeps through the state today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says once the cold front moves through, temperatures will drop….
cut 9 (07) “….across northern parishes”
Temperatures are already in the mid 30s in northwest Louisiana.

An organization is gearing up to push for hemp legalization in Louisiana after the 2018 Farm Bill allowes states to regulate it. Louisiana Industrial Hemp Alliance Representative Arthur Walker says it’s a lucrative cash crop and is found in a range of products.
Cut 4 (11) “…can do.”
The big sticking point for some state legislators is that hemp contains THC, the same chemical found in marijuana that’s responsible for getting a user high. But supporters of hemp production say there’s not enough THC in hemp to distort the mind.

The LHSAA Convention gets underway in Baton Rouge today and there will be a discussion to allow private schools to have their own championship sites in football, basketball, baseball and softball. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine believes this is a bad idea, especially when it could mean that a football championship game would not be played in the Superdome…
cut 11 (11) “…argument wise”
But Teurlings Catholic Principal Mike Boyer says student-athletes are not motivated by the venue, they’re motivated by the title…
cut 12 (07) “…might be”
Boyer says he wants separate championship venues because the current format creates attendance issues, bad start times for title games and financially schools are not seeing the same type of revenue for playing in a title game than they did in the past.

8:30 LRN Newscast January 23

New Orleans Attorney Frank D’Amico says his lawsuit against the NFL seeking that Commissioner Roger Goodell replay the end of the NFC Championship game because of a missed pass interference call is not a publicity stunt…
cut 16 (14) “…not doing so”
A hearing is scheduled for Monday in New Orleans and there’s a separate suit by a Lafayette attorney seeking an injunction to stop the Super Bowl. And Governor Edwards has written Goodell urging him and the owners to make sure a missed call of this level never keeps a team from reaching the Super Bowl again.

Another cold front is moving through Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 8 (07) “…northern parishes”
In Shreveport, the real feel temperature at this hour is 26-degrees.

Expect a push in the legislative session that begins in April to legalize hemp. Hemp is used in clothing, plastic composites and construction materials. Louisiana Industrial Hemp Alliance Representative Arthur Walker says while hemp does contain T-H-C, the same chemical in marijuana, he says the level of T-H-C is not high enough to get a person stoned…
cut 6 (10) “….you high”
The state legislature would have to pass a regulatory bill for hemp growth to be allowed here.

The LHSAA Annual Convention begins today in Baton Rouge. A vote could take place on Friday that would allow private schools to hold state championship games at venues other than the Superdome for football or Sulphur for baseball and softball. Basketball title games would also be held at a site closer to the school with the higher seed. But LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine believes the Association’s constitution doesn’t allow for this proposal to happen…
cut 13 (09) “…gonna play”

7:30 LRN Newscast January 23

A New Orleans attorney has filed a lawsuit in an effort to get NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to invoke a rule that gives him authority to say a game should be replayed because of that missed pass interference call in the final two minutes of the NFC Championship game. Lawyer Frank D’Amico…
cut 15 (10) “…from that point”
Governor Edwards has written a letter to Goodell asking him and the other owners to pursue rule changes to ensure this does not happen again.

Legislation could be debated during the regular session that begins in April that would legalize hemp. Louisiana Industrial Hemp Alliance Representative Arthur Walker says hemp is a commodity that’s wanted in China and it can be used in plastics, asphalt and clothing. He says Louisiana’s fertile grounds would be a good growing spot…
cut 5 (09) “….ideal”
Advocates will have to convince lawmakers that you can’t get high off of hemp.

The LHSAA Annual Convention begins today and there’s a proposal up for debate that would let private schools hold their football championships at a venue other than the Superdome…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Three young men are in custody for the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Chandler Erskine of Oak Grove. State Police say Erskine and another person were shot when a group of individuals met at the Oak Grove Rodeo Arena for an unknown reason. The second victim in the shooting is said to be in serious condition. The three men arrested are from Oak Grove.

6:45 LRN Sportscast January 23

LSU basketball puts its seven-game winning streak on the line tonight when they host Georgia at 6 PM in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Tigers coach Will Wade says his team is playing with great rhythm and the chemistry is great…
cut 18 (16) “….get better”
The Tigers have also won 17 straight at the P-MAC which ties for fourth longest in program history.

Elsewhere, Northwestern State hosts Sam Houston State. The Bearkats are 5-0 in league play, while the Demons are 2-and-3. Nicholls is at Corpus Christi. The Colonels are trying to break a two-game losing streak. Southeastern looks for its third straight win when they visit Houston Baptist. UNO is at Central Arkansas in a game featuring two teams with identical 4-and-2 conference records.

After a five-game road trip, the Pelicans are home tonight to take on the Pistons. No Anthony Davis for New Orleans today and he might be out longer than originally expected. It was estimated he could miss a week or two because of an injured finger, but now there’s a report he could be out two to four weeks if a specialist finds a fracture in his left index finger.

The LHSAA Annual Convention begins today and there’s a proposal up for debate that would let private schools hold their football championships at a venue other than the Superdome. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

6:30 LRN Newscast January 23

Lawsuits have been filed against the NFL claiming the league must pay damages to fans who are suffering from Sunday’s NFC Championship game. New Orleans Attorney Frank D’Amico says the non pass interference call in the final two minutes of regulation was egregious and demands a recourse…
cut 14 (10) “…courts by Monday”
And a Lafayette attorney is seeking an injunction to stop the Super Bowl. Legal analysts say these suits are not expected to be successful.

Another cold front is moving through the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 7 (08) “….said and done”
And just like on Saturday, temperatures will drop. High temperatures only in the 40s for north and central Louisiana today and we’ll see freezing temps for much of the state tomorrow morinng.

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp regulation on a state level, so could we see it legalized in Louisiana? Matt Doyle talked to one group pushing to make it happen…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

LRN AM Newscall Correction ###Corrects the last name of the attorney in the Saints suit story####

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp regulation on a state level, so could we see it legalized in Louisiana? Matt Doyle talked to one group pushing to make it happen…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

____________________________

The LHSAA Annual Convention begins today in Baton Rouge and there’s a proposal up for debate that would let select or private schools hold their football championships at a venue other than the Superdome. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

_______________________________

A New Orleans lawyer is taking the side of the Saints in the courtroom an attempt to get NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to provide answers following the Burglary on the Bayou.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

__________________________________

An organization is gearing up to push for hemp legalization in Louisiana after the 2018 Farm Bill let states start regulating it. Louisiana Industrial Hemp Alliance Representative Arthur Walker says it’s a lucrative cash crop that currently has to be mostly imported, and is found in a range of products.

Cut 4 (11) “…can do.”

According to PEW, 19 states harvested industrial hemp last year, but only 25,000 total acres. Walker says it’s a hearty crop that can sprout up just about anywhere, so Louisiana’s fertile lands would be perfect.

Cut 5 (09) “…ideal.”

Some lawmakers have expressed concern that allowing hemp would lead to kids using recreational marijuana.

When most people hear hemp, they think pot, which historically has kept the plant from taking root. Walker says while hemp is related to marijuana, they are not the same, and industrial hemp cannot get you stoned.

Cut 6 (10) “…you high.”

The state legislature would have to pass a regulatory bill for hemp growth to be allowed here.

___________________________________________________

The Saints Super Bowl hopes isn’t the only thing going cold in the Bayou State this week as more cold air moves into the state today.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says with this latest front you’ll need to dress warm for the next few days and arm yourself with an umbrella for today

Cut 7 (08) “…said and done.”

Keim says the northern parishes have already seen a massive drop in temps compared to yesterday afternoon.

Cut 8 (07) “…across northern parishes.”

Keim says by this afternoon the front will have crossed the state and the cold temps will continue to drop throughout the afternoon and into tomorrow as well.

Cut 9 (07) “…across northern parishes.″

Keim says it’s not atypical to receive this type of arctic blast at this time of the year.

_________________________________

There’s a push at this week’s Louisiana High School Athletic Association annual convention to allow schools in the “select” divisions, generally private schools, the ability to choose their own championship game locations. Teurlings Catholic principal Mike Boyer says ideally, “select” teams could host the championship at the higher seeded team’s home field to save on stadium rental costs.

Cut 10 (10) “non-revenue sports”

The move was inspired in part by disappointing revenue for high schools in the 2017 state football championships, a year where the cost to rent the Superdome increased significantly.

Opponents argue that would likely mean student-athletes from select schools would not have the chance to play at big, nationally recognized venues for their championship games. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says depriving select school kids of a trip to the Superdome is wrong

Cut 11 (11) “…argument wise.”

The other “split division sports” include baseball, softball, and girls and boys basketball, and they all have predetermined championship venues.

Boyer says he understands the argument about keeping kids out of the dome, but believes students are not motivated by the venue, they’re motivated by the title.

Cut 12 (07) “…might be.”

Many select schools have indicated that they do not think they need the rest of the LHSAA to hold a select school vote on the matter, but Bonnie disagrees. He says the whole argument is a moot point, because the constitution of the LHSAA would prevent such an action.

Cut 13 (09) “…gonna play.”

The convention begins today and a vote on the proposal to separate championship venues will take place Friday.

_______________________________________________

Lawsuits have been filed against the NFL over Sunday’s NFC Championship game. New Orleans Attorney Frank D’Amico says the non pass interference call in the final two minutes of regulation was egregious and demands recourse…

Cut 14 (10) “…courts by Monday.”

An NFL rule gives NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell the  authority to call the two teams back to the Superdome and resume the game from the point where the penalty should have been called. D’Amico says that’s the goal of his suit…

Cut 15 (10) “…from that point.”

D’Amico says the legal action is not a stretch as the no-call appeared to be a deliberate action and an example of a business not operating fairly by its customers.

Cut 16 (14) “…not doing so..″

A Lafayette attorney is seeking an injunction to stop the Super Bowl. Legal analysts say these suits are not expected to be successful.

Governor Edwards has penned a letter to Goodell, expressing his disappointment with the outcome of the game as well.  Edwards said while he doubts Goodell will change the outcome of the game, he suggested Goodell and owners should make sure there is some recourse on the field to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

____________________________________

The 25th ranked LSU men’s basketball team shoots for its eighth straight victory tonight when they host Georgia. The Tigers are 4-0 in league play, while the Bulldogs are 1-and-4. But Coach Will Wade says his team better not be complacent tonight…

 cut 17 (18)   “..play better” 

Wade says his team is playing with great rhtyem during this seven-game winning streak and the chemistry is great too…

Cut 18 (16)  get better” 

LSU enters this game ranked 25th in the country. It’s the first time they’ve been in the Top 25 since November. Wade says when you start receiving national recognition, you can’t let off the gas pedal…

Cut 19 (20)   “…first go around”