08:30 Newscast, January 11th, 2018

The Louisiana Association of Educators is holding a rally today in support of the Vermilion Parish teacher who was escorted out of a school board meeting Monday. Deyshia Hargrave questioned a pay raise for the Superintendent, and vide of her arrest is sparking outrage worldwide. Governor John Bel Edwards says his wife Donna, also a teacher, was not happy about what she saw on the video…:
Cut 11 (09) “of action”
The Vermilion Parish Superintendent says the firestorm has caused him to receive death threats.

Hargrave released a video statement on Facebook saying she does not regret standing up for what she says is right, and has loved the outcome of this:
Cut 12 (08) “with me”
Abbeville is not pressing charges.

Temperatures will be dropping back into the 40s this weekend…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

So who makes the best King Cake in Louisiana. KingCakeSnob.com holds an online contest every year to find out. Spokesman Jay Connaughton says they see different winners each and every Carnival…:
CUT 26 (06) “Mardi Gras season”
Vote for your favorite traditional and filled online at KingCakeSnob.com.

07:30 Newscast, January 11th, 2018

The Vermilion Parish School teacher arrestedthis week is speaking out for the first time via Facebook…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

It’s a question that gets asked every Mardi Gras season. Who makes the best King Cake? KingCakeSnob.com wants to hear from you to find out. Spokesman Jay Connaughton…:
Cut 4 (10) “our region”
Manny Randazzo won in both categories last year.

In its “52 places to visit in 2018,” The New York Times has named New Orleans No. 1 in a year in which The Big Easy turns 300.

Longtime LSU tight ends coach Steve Ensminger is officially the new offensive coordinator for the Tigers. Fans are lukewarm about the decision by Head Coach Ed Orgeron, and Tiger Rag’s James Moran explains why…:
Cut 15 (13) “solution yet”
Moran says developing a QB will be Ensminger’s biggest task in 2018.

Governor John Bel Edwards today will speak at Blue Bayou Water Park in Baton Rouge for the groundbreaking ceremony of the I-10 widening project from Highland to LA 73 headed to New Orleans. Construction on the 6.5-mile job is scheduled to begin early this year.

 

06:45 Sportscast, January 11th, 2018

Steve Ensminger is officially the new offensive coordinator for LSU. Ensminger has been with the Tigers for the last eight years, most recently as the team’s tight ends coach, and he also served as the interim offensive coordinator in 2016. Despite a promising past record helping the team’s offense, Tiger Rag’s James Moran says LSU fans don’t sound happy…:
Cut 14 (14) “at LSU”
Ensminger is a former LSU quarterback who brought the team to three bowl games in the late 70s. LSU running back Derrius announced Wednesday he will enter the NFL Draft.

Tiger fans got to witness another brilliant performance by the men’s hoops team last night, as LSU dominated Arkansas the entire game on their way to a 75-54 victory. The Tigers return to the PMAC Saturday to face Alabama.

The Saints face their biggest challenge of the year this Sunday, as they head to Minnesota for a rematch of the season opener that they lost 29-19. The Vikings boast the best defense in the league, and have routinely suffocated even the best offenses. Coach Sean Payton…:
Cut 16 (14) “a great defense”
Kickoff Sunday is at 3:40pm.

Southeastern Louisiana men’s hoops rallied from 15 point halftime deficit to beat Lamar 63-58. The Lions are 4-0 in the Southland. Roddy Peters poured in 26 points as Nicholls improved to 4-1 in the Southland with an 85-80 win over McNeese. UNO fell to 4-1 in league play by losing to Stephen F Austin 78-68.

McNeese State head football coach Lance Guidry is reportedly in negotiations with Florida State for a defensive assistant coaching position.

The Pelicans had a nice showing last night but ended up falling to Memphis 105-102 last night.

 

06:30 Newscast, January 11th, 2018

Governor John Bel Edwards said on his monthly call in radio show that he did not approve of the way a Vermilion Parish teacher was removed from a school board meeting this week. The incident has received worldwide attention, and Edwards says the First Lady, also a teacher, was highly offended by the actions of the Abbeville Marshal who arrested Deyshia Hargrave…:
CUT 25 (09) “our state”
Hargrave was speaking out against a pay raise for the Superintendent.

Get ready for a return of cold temperatures. A strong cold front will move through the state today, dropping temperatures and keeping highs below 50 degrees for the weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim…:
Cut 7 (09) “experience today”
Temperatures should return to the 60s late next week.

LSU has officially named Steve Ensminger as offensive coordinator…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The hospital where Congressman Steve Scalise of Jefferson Parish had surgery Wednesday says the House Majority Whip’s procedure went well, and he is listed in fair condition.

AM Newscall January 11

Temperatures will be dropping back into the 40s this weekend. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

______________________________________

The Vermilion Parish Elementary School teacher arrested and handcuffed this week is speaking out for the first time via Facebook.  Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

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The Tiger’s have officially named Steve Ensminger as offensive coordinator. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

___________________________________________________

Who has the best King Cake in Louisiana? The website King Cake Snob is set to find out this carnival season.  Jay Connaughton, CEO of Mandeville-based Innovative Advertising, says the competition will award the top “traditional” and “filled” King Cakes this year by separating the best from the rest…

Cut 4  (10) “our region.” 

The site for people to submit reviews is at king-cake-snob-dot-com.  Connaughton says, when you go to the website you can also fill out a questionnaire to describe what type of King Cake you like the best.  They have found interesting trends among the reviews…

Cut 5  (10)  “just icing.”

Last year, cakes from over 250 cakes and 150 bakeries were reviewed by customers.   New Orleans based bakery Manny Randazzo took the majority of the awards last year for Best “Traditional”, Best “Filled”, Best Presentation and Best Freshness.  The Royal Bakery in Belle Chasse won for Best Flavor.  He says there has been a lot of parity since they started the competition three years ago…

Cut 6 (07)  “Gras season.”

_________________________________________________

Get ready for a return of cold temperatures. A strong cold front will move through the state today, dropping temperatures and keeping highs below 50 degrees for the weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim…

Cut 7 (09)  “experience today.”

The cold air is expected to stick around all weekend long, and keep temperatures in the 50s into next week. Keim says north Louisiana could be in for some particularly nasty freezes.

Cut 8 (10) “low 20s”

Snow is not projected despite the combination of freezing temperatures and precipitation. Keim says with that in mind, drivers in north Louisiana should be careful on the roads tonight…

Cut 9 (11)  “driving conditions.”

Temperatures should return to the 60s late next week.

___________________________________________________

The elementary school teacher who was arrested after speaking out against the Vermilion Parish superintendent’s raise has released a video statement.  Deyshia Hargrave says by being asked to leave, the school board is attempting to silence an issue that effects the entire community…

Cut 10 (14) “system even.”

Many are speaking out against the treatment she received.  Governor John Bel Edwards and First Lady Donna Edwards have watched the video and he says they don’t understand why the Marshal, identified as Reginald “Reggie” Hilts arrested her…

Cut 11 (09) “of action.”

Hargrave says even though she had to go through this embarrassing event, the outcome is better than she could have hoped for…

Cut 12 (08) “with me.”

The First Lady, a teacher herself, says this incident shows many aren’t respected and their talents need to be honored and respected…

Cut 13 (09)  “as educators.”

The Louisiana Association of Educators and Vermilion Association of Educators will host a Teacher Voice rally today at 3:45pm in Abbeville.

_________________________________________________

Steve Ensminger is officially the new offensive coordinator of the LSU Tigers. Ensminger has been with the Tigers for the last eight years, most recently as the team’s tight end coach, and served as the interim offensive coordinator in 2016. Despite a promising past record helping the team’s offense, Tiger Rag’s James Moran says Tiger fans don’t sound happy…

Cut 14 (14) “at LSU.”

Ensminger’s offense averaged 32 points per game during his tenure.

The move reflects a major change in philosophy for head coach Ed Orgeron, who was hired with a mandate to bring on the nation’s most highly regarded, and highly paid coordinators. Former coordinator Matt Canada was one of the hottest hires on the market at the time, and Moran says fans are having a hard time buying into Ensminger …

Cut 15 (13) “solution yet.”

Ensminger is a former LSU quarterback who brought the team to three bowl games in the late 70s.

_______________________________________

The Saints face their biggest challenge of the year this Sunday, as they head to Minnesota for a rematch of the season opener that they lost 19 to 29. The Vikings boast the best defense in the league, and have routinely suffocated even the best offenses, keeping both the Falcons and Rams in the single digits. Coach Sean Payton says after four years, Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer has created a dominant defense…

Cut 16 (14)  “a great defense”

The Saints will be rolling into a raucous US Bank Stadium full of fans who know their team is only two wins away from the first ever home Super Bowl. The Saints have one of the least penalized offensive lines in the league, and Payton says the team will need to maintain that discipline in the face of the loudest crowd of the year…

Cut 17 (12) “this year”

A particular concern for the Saints newly explosive passing offense is Xavier Rhodes. The fifth year pro is one of the best corners in the league, and shut down star receiver Mike Thomas earlier this year. Payton says the team will have to respect his talent…

Cut 18 (14) “behind it”

The game kicks off at 3:40 Sunday afternoon.

____________________________________

 

18:30 LRN Newscast January 10

Talks are heating up among Republicans hoping to reclaim the governor’s seat for their party in 2019. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The middle school English teacher from Abbeville who was arrested after speaking out against a pay raise for the Vermilion School Superintendent has released a video statement. Deyshia Hargrave says she does not regret her line of questioning at the school board meeting Monday and she is outraged about being removed and arrested

A pit bull fatally wounded a woman at a West Monroe area pet boarding house last night. Ouachita Parish Sheriffs spokesperson Glen Springfield says deputies arrived at the Happy Hounds Hotel and found Laura Ray had been severely injured.  No further details have been released about the incident, and Springfield says the pit bull is being held by Ouachita Parish Animal Control.

Cut 9 (06)  “animal control”

Steve Ensminger has been named Matt Canada’s replacement as LSU offensive coordinator. The Baton Rouge Advocate obtained the separation agreement between LSU and Canada which state’s the former OC’s $1.7 million dollar settlement would be voided of he interferes with the football program. In other Tiger news, Derrius Guice announced today he’d be entering the NFL Draft.

17:30 Newscast, January 10th, 2018

The elementary school teacher who was arrested after speaking out against the Vermilion Parish superintendent’s raise has released a video statement. Deyshia Hargrave says by being asked to leave, the school board is attempting to silence an issue that effects the entire community…:
Cut 25 (14) “system even”
On his monthly call-in radio show Wednesday, Governor John Bel Edwards said he did not see that Hargrave did or said anything that warranted that type of action against her.

Steve Ensminger has been named Matt Canada’s replacement as LSU offensive coordinator. The Baton Rouge Advocate obtained the separation agreement between LSU and Canada which state’s the former OC’s $1.7 million dollar settlement would be voided of he interferes with the football program. In other Tiger news, Derrius Guice announced today he’d be entering the NFL Draft.

US Senator John Kennedy says he’s considering a run for governor in 2019, as the GOP in Louisiana hopes to keep Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards from the post for a second term. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says this is a very conservative state, so you can expect plenty of Republican candidates to line up for next year’s election…:
CUT 10 (09) “David Vitter”
Other Republican names that have been mentioned include US Congressman Ralph Abraham, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and Attorney General Jeff Landry.

A woman in Ouachita Parish has died as the result of a pit bull mauling. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Glen Springfield says EMS tried to save the severely injured woman, but there was nothing they could do…:
Cut 8 (04) “was fatal”
The incident happened at a West Monroe area pet boarding facility.

*Update* 16:45 Sportscast, January 10th, 2018

LSU has officially hired Matt Canada’s replacement. The Tigers have promoted Steve Ensminger to the position of offensive coordinator. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says this isn’t really a surprise…:
CUT 26 (10) “replacing him with”
Ensminger played quarterback for the Tigers from 1976-79 and played in three bowl games at LSU.

Tigers running back Derrius Guice has declared for the NFL draft, as expected. He announced on social media that he has decided to forgo his senior season, becoming the 5th tiger to do so. Guice will finish his LSU career as the school’s single-season record holder for career yards-per-carry.

Golden Eagles quarterback Andre Sale is leaving Tennessee Tech and transferring to LSU. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

The LSU men’s basketball team visits Arkansas tonight looking to keep the momentum going after a thrilling win over Texas A-and-M on Saturday. The Tigers have won two straight on the road, but Coach Will Wade says they will have to step up their game to get a win in Fayetteville…:
Cut 18 (13) “dunking everything”
The Tigers were picked to finish in last place in the SEC. But so far they are exceeding expectations.

The Saints and Vikings are set to meet for a second time this season on Sunday when they meet in the N-F-C playoffs. It sure feels like that first meeting was played during a different season, considering how much the personnel has changed for both teams. Case Keenum has taken over as Minnesota’s quarterback, while the Saints didn’t have left tackle Terron Armstead or center Max Unger. Both players are healthy now, but left guard Andrus Peat will not play after breaking his fibula last week.

16:30 Newscast, January 10th, 2018

The middle school English teacher from Abbeville who was arrested after speaking out against a pay raise for the Vermilion School Superintendent has released a video statement. Deyshia Hargrave says she does not regret her line of questioning at the school board meeting Monday and she is outraged about being removed and arrested. But Vermilion Parish School Board President Anthony Fontana compared Hargrave’s actions to a child in a classroom:
Cut 3 (07) “any help”
Hargrave says she is not granting local media interviews at this time until she appears on a major network program tomorrow morning. This incident is getting attention throughout the world.

LSU has officially hired Matt Canada’s replacement. The Tigers have promoted Steve Ensminger to the position of offensive coordinator.  Ensminger played quarterback for the Tigers from 1976-79 and played in three bowl games at LSU.

The U-S Supreme Court is set to rule this year on New Jersey’s challenge to the ban on sports betting. If overturned, a report says that Louisiana could be one of 18 states to file legislation to regulate sports betting. Chris Grove with Eilers & Krejcik Gaming says his firm analyzed the different gaming players in Louisiana:
Cut 13 (09) “in 2018″
He says legalizing betting in Louisiana would be a huge benefit to the budget.

US Senator John Kennedy says he’s considering a run for governor in 2019, as the GOP in Louisiana hopes to keep Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards from the post for a second term. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Edwards is going to be a tough candidate to beat.:
Cut 12 (09) “he’s raised”
Other GOP names include US Congressmen Ralph Abraham and Steve Scalise, and Attorney General Jeff Landry.

15:30 LRN Newscast January 10

A Vermilion Parish school teacher who was arrested after being asked to leave a school board meeting returned to the classroom today.  Deyshia Hargrave was arrested after voicing her opposition to the superintendent’s raise.  After she left, she was pinned to the floor and handcuffed.  There is some question as to the status of the Marshal that handcuffed her.  Board President Anthony Fontana says the Marshal remains in good standing with the school…

CUT 6 (08) “keep order.”

A pit bull fatally wounded a woman at a West Monroe area pet boarding house last night. Ouachita Parish Sheriffs spokesperson Glen Springfield says deputies arrived at the Happy Hounds Hotel and found Laura Ray had been severely injured…

cut 7 (07)  “the location”

The pit bull is being held by animal control officials.

More Republican names are coming to the forefront to make a run at the Governor’s office in 2019.  U.S. Congressman Ralph Abraham, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and Attorney General Jeff Landry have been mentioned.  ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says they’ll have the task of convincing people that Governor Edwards isn’t as conservative as he maintains:

Cut 11 (09) “organization”

Louisiana’s legislative session begins in March, but there has not been any indication that lawmakers plan to file a bill to legalize sports betting in the state. Chris Grove from Eilers and Krejcik Gaming says it appears Legislators are waiting for one of the three possible Supreme Court outcomes from on a New Jersey challenge to allow sports betting …

Cut 14 (13) “is unconstitional”