17:30 LRN Newscast January 25

Negotiations are underway to find a resolution to the impending expiration of the Dream Act, a law that provides legal status to people brought to the US as children. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

A former Vermilion Parish middle school teacher is sentenced to 70 years in prison for making and possession child pornography.  33-year-old James Harber of Abbeville contacted a woman in 2010 and began having an online video sexual relationship which later included her three children.  He later moved to Louisiana and sexually abused the children.

A former Monroe children’s TV show host known as “Mr. Wonder” will now have to register as a sex offender as part of a plea deal for inappropriate conduct with a child back in 1979. 78-year-old Frank Selas pleaded guilty to indecent behavior with a juvenile earlier this month, but was not required to register as a sex offender. Mr. Wonder’s attorney Mike Small…

Cut 10 (11) “was imposed”

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has been with the team now for 12 seasons.  His contract will expire in March as NFL free agency approaches. Saints GM Mickey Loomis says there’s no worry about getting Brees resigned in the Saints camp

Cut 9 (07) “continue that.”

Brees is the second oldest starting quarterback in the league.

16:45 LRN Sportscast January 25

LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. Faulk says he will help the players not only on the field, but away from the game as well…
Cut 3 (09) “long time.”
Head Coach Ed Orgeron says their mission is to develop every aspect of a young man’s life and Faulk will be instrumental in this process.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is confident they’ll be able to sign Quarterback Drew Brees to a new contract. The 39-year-old’s contract is set to expire in March, but Loomis doesn’t have a time line on when a new deal may get done…
cut 11 (11) “…Drew Brees”
Louisiana fans heading to the Cajundome tonight to watch the men’s basketball team host South Alabama are encouraged to wear black. The Cajuns are 17-3 overall, 7-0 in the Sun Belt. Coach Bob Marlin says they are playing winning basketball and he hopes that leads to large crowds at the Cajundome…
cut 18 (16) “…fun to watch”
Tip off is at 7:15.

Also tonight, ULM hosts Troy. The Warhawks will need to figure out how to defend Troy’s Wesley Person, who is averaging 19 points a game. Tulane is also home tonight as the Green Wave hosts South Florida, who is winless in American Conference this season.

Nicholls State is in sole possession of first place in the Southland after beating Lamar 79-74 last night.

16:30 LRN Newscast January 25

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy says drug traffickers can pay for the proposed U-S Mexico border wall. Cassidy says billions of dollars in drug money crosses the border each year and he says the US is only intercepting a fraction of it…
cut 13 (11) “…going back”
One estimate says it will cost 18-billion dollars to build the border wall.

LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. Faulk says he will help the players not only on the field, but away from the game as well…
Cut 3 (09) “long time.”
Head Coach Ed Orgeron says their mission is to develop every aspect of a young man’s life while they are a part of the program and Faulk will be instrumental in this process.

A new Tulane study finds Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Political Science Professor Sally Kenney says another concern is that most of Louisiana’s minorities and women judges are serving in certain areas, like Orleans…:
Cut 7 (09) “would show”
She says minorities are 36% of the state’s population, but non-white judges were only at 22 percent. Women judges comprised less than 32 percent of all state and federal judges in Louisiana. But 51% of the state is female.
Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is confident they’ll be able to sign Quarterback Drew Brees to a new contract. The 39-year-old’s contract is set to expire in March, but Loomis doesn’t have a time line on when a new deal may get done…
cut 11 (11) “…Drew Brees”
Brees is one of seven Saints players that will play in Sunday’s Pro Bowl.

330PM Newscast January 25

A new study out of Tulane finds that Louisiana is making slow progress diversifying judgeships. Michelle Southern reports…:

Congress has reached an agreement to hold a vote on the Dream Act. A proposed deal would see funding for President Trump’s border wall in exchange for a Dreamer resolution. Senator Cassidy says the fate of Dreamers is dependent on boarder funding…

Cut 14 (07) “border security”

LRN

LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. After a 13-year career with the New England Patriots, Faulk returned to his high school alma mater and was an assistant coach for the Golden Bears. He says it was not an easy decision to leave Carencro, but is excited about his new role with the LSU Tigers…

Cut 4, 08 seconds, from there

Faulk says his life experiences will help develop these players not only for football but for whatever else life may present them.

The jury in the trial involving the death of Joe McKnight visited the defendant’s car today. McKnight was fatally shot by Ronald Gasser, and prosecutors reconstructed what they believe the scene would have looked like after the shooting. The defense says Joe McKnight tried to lunge at Gasser through the passenger side window after a fit of road rage. The prosecution is attempting to demonstrate that the car would not have allowed for that.

McKnight was shot on December 1st of 2016

14:30 LRN Newscast January 25

Negotiations are underway to find a resolution to the impending expiration of the Dream Act, a law that provides legal status to people brought to the US as children. Matt Doyle has the story…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Advocate newspaper reports an LSU task force formed following the death of a fraternity pledge may recommend random drug tests for frat members, eliminating hard alcohol and kegs and frat houses and relocating fraternity tailgates. A full report will be made official next month.

A Tulane study finds Louisiana has made slow progress when it comes to electing minorities and women to judgeships. Political Science Professor Sally Kenney says they are also concerned that President Trump’s nominees to the federal bench in Louisiana and the US have been 91-percent white men…
cut 8 (08) “…18 years”
The President has nominated Wendy Vitter as a federal judge in New Orleans.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis told reporters at the Senior Bowl they want Quarterback Drew Brees to return next season. Brees is coming off a season where he completed an NFL record 72-percent of his passes, but his contract will expire in March. Loomis also says there is a possibility they may draft a quarterback in April…
cut 10 (12) “…number of years”

PM Newscall January 25

A new study out of Tulane finds that Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Negotiations are underway to find a resolution to the impending expiration of the Dream Act, a law that provides legal status to people brought to the US as children. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

_________________________________________________

LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. Faulk says he will help the players not only on the field, but away from the game as well…

Cut 3 (09) “long time.”

After a 13-year career with the New England Patriots, Faulk returned to his high school alma mater and was an assistant coach for the Golden Bears. He says it was not an easy decision to leave Carencro, but is excited about his new role with the LSU Tigers…

Cut 4  (08) “from there.” 

He says it’s a fact that many football players in college don’t make it to the pros.  Faulk says his life experiences will help develop these players not only for football but for whatever else life may present them…

Cut 5  (04)  “that’s all.”

_________________________________________________________

A new study out of Tulane finds that Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Professor of Political Science Sally Kenney says racial minorities are 36% of the state’s population, but non-white judges were only at 22 percent. She says women judges comprised less than 32 percent of all state and federal judges in Louisiana…:

Cut 6 (03)  “as women”

Kenney says there has been a gradual increase, but it’s up to citizens to commit to equal justice under the law and keep vigilant that this progress is not reversed. She says another concern is that Louisiana’s minorities and women judges are serving in certain areas, like Orleans…:

Cut 7 (09)  “would show”

The study finds that in 1992, non-white judges held 22.6% of the district court positions, a number that barely moved in 2017 when it was 23.9%. Kenney says she’s also concerned that President Trump’s nominees to the federal bench in Louisiana and the US have been 91% white men…:

Cut 8 (08) “18 years”

______________________________________________________

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has been with the team now for 12 seasons.  His contract will expire in March as NFL free agency approaches. Saints GM Mickey Loomis says there’s no worry about getting Brees resigned in the Saints camp

Cut 9 (07) “continue that.”

There could be concerns due to his age.  At 39, he’s the second oldest starting QB in the league behind the Patriots Tom Brady.  Brees backup Chase Daniel didn’t take a single snap this season.   Loomis says they have been very content with their quarterback position, but are always in the market for the next big star…

Cut 10 (12) “of years.”

Loomis met with reporters while scouting players at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. When asked if there is a target date to have Brees under a new contract, Loomis says there isn’t one, but as far as he and the rest of the organization is concerned, Brees is their man for the future…

Cut 11 (11) “Drew Brees.”

_________________________________________________________

Congress has reached an agreement to hold a vote on the Dream Act before it expires in March. The Dream Act provides temporary legal status to people who were brought to the U.S. as children. A proposed deal would see funding for President Trump’s border wall in exchange for a Dreamer resolution, and Senator Bill Cassidy says drug traffickers can pay for the wall…

Cut 12 (11) “Mexican Cartel”

Reports indicate that billions of dollars in drug money crosses the border each year. Cassidy says the US is only intercepting a fraction of it…

Cut 13 (11) “going back”

Cassidy says the fate of Dreamers is dependent on what deal can be struck for building the wall…

Cut 14 (07) “border security”

______________________________________________________

13:30 Newscast, January 25th, 2018

The federal government was reopened after a tense three day negotiation that resulted in an agreement to hold a vote on the Dream Act before the legislation expires in March. The legislation provides temporary legal status to people who were brought to the U.S. as children. A proposed deal would see funding for President Trump’s wall in exchange for a Dreamer resolution, and Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s identified a way to fund it:
Cut 12 (11) “Mexican Cartel”

The state Department of Health is offering free flu shots at more than 55 Parish Health Units across the state on Wednesday, January 31. They said Louisiana is on track to meet and even exceed the most severe flu seasons which cause about 700 deaths and nearly 8,000 hospitalizations. Officials highly recommend everyone get vaccinated this season if they haven’t already.

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has been with the team now for 12 seasons and remains without a contract as NFL free agency approaches. Saints GM Mickey Loomis says there’s no panic in the Saints camp…:
Cut 9 (07) “continue that”
There could be concerns due to Brees’ age which is 39.

A new study out of Tulane finds that Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Professor of Political Science Sally Kenney says another concern is that Louisiana’s minorities and women judges are serving in certain areas, like Orleans…:
Cut 7 (09) “would show”
She says minorities are 36% of the state’s population, but non-white judges were only at 22 percent. Women judges comprised less than 32 percent of all state and federal judges in Louisiana. But 51% of the state is female.

12:30 Newscasts, January 25th, 2018

A new study out of Tulane finds that Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Professor of Political Science Sally Kenney says racial minorities are 36% of the state’s population, but non-white judges were only at 22 percent. She says women judges comprised less than 32 percent of all state and federal judges in Louisiana…:
CUT 6 (03) “as women”
She says there has been a gradual increase, but it’s up to citizens to commit to equal justice under law and keep vigilant that this progress is not reversed.

LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. He believes his life experiences will help develop these players not only for football but for whatever else life may present them…:
Cut 5 (04) “that’s all”
Faulk played for the Patriots for 13 years.

The state’s unemployment rate has dropped again to level we haven’t seen in nearly ten years. Kelley Ray has more…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

The State Department of Health announced today that flu shots will be offered at no cost at 55 Parish Health Units across the state on January 31st.

11:40 LRN Sportscast January 25

Former LSU star Kevin Faulk is returning to Baton Rouge where he’ll be the Director of Player Development for the Tigers. Faulk is LSU’s all-time leading rusher and then went on to win three Super Bowl Championships with the New England Patriots. Faulk has been through a lot and he’ll serve as a mentor for the Tiger players…
cut 5 (04) “…that’s all”
Faulk is 41-years-old and he was recently inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

The Cajuns men’s basketball team is 17-3 overall and they are the only team in the Sun Belt with an undefeated league record heading into tonight’s home game against South Alabama. In the last five games, UL Lafayette has held its opponents to 65 points or less. Coach Bob Marlin says that’s been a big key to their success…
cut 17 (17) “…special season”
Tip-off is at 7:15.

The Pelicans moved within a game of fifth-place Oklahoma City in the Western Conference standings as New Orleans defeated Charlotte 101-96 last night. Jrue Holiday had 19 points, including two big baskets with less than 2:30 minutes left. Anthony Davis also had 19 points, while DeMarcus Cousins had 16 points and 13 rebounds. The Pels begin a three-game homestand on Friday against Houston.

Nicholls State is all alone in first place in the Southland standings after beating Lamar 79-74. Senior guard Tevon Saddler led the way with 22 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.

Southeastern Louisiana entered the night tied for first place in the league, but the Colonels fell to Sam Houston State 75-65. The Lions have lost seven straight to Sam Houston.

Also last night, UNO defeated Northwestern State 73-67. The Privateers are 7-2 in the Southland, while the Demons are now 0-8.

11:30 Newscast, January 25th, 2018

LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. Faulk says he will help the players not only on the field, but away from the game as well…:
Cut 3 (09) “long time”
Faulk says his life experiences will help develop these players not only for football but for whatever else life may present them.

The state keeps riding the wave of positive job news, as the latest unemployment rate dropped to 4.6 in December — the lowest in nearly a decade. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Ava Dejoie says many jobs were added in the leisure and hospitality industry…:
cut 13 (10) “two-point-eight-percent”
Over 2.1 million Louisianans are currently working.

Movers and shakers from across Louisiana are in DC for Washington Mardi Gras this week. Matt Doyle spoke with LAPolitcs..:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The American Lung Association gives Louisiana an F in four key categories on its annual State Of Tobacco Control report…:
Cut 25 (11) “Tobacco 21″
Regional Director of Health Promotion for ALA Amy Ellis says 23 percent of Louisiana residents are current smokers.