13:30 Newscast, January 23rd, 2018

Congressman Clay Higgins is co sponsoring an immigration reform bill…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has unveiled a new brand to promote Louisiana. Formerly Pick Your Passion, the new slogan is now, “Louisiana: Feed Your Soul.” Nungesser said the brand will offer travelers a new outlook – that you may come to Louisiana hungry, but you’ll leave with your soul full of all the rewarding experiences we offer.

The recent cold snap could mean a delay in the strawberry harvest this year, and a possible increase in price at the grocery store. Whitney Wallace, LSU AgCenter agent in Tangipahoa Parish, says many of the blossoms on the plants that weren’t protected will have to regrow again, which is a 21 day process:
Cut 4 (09) “cold weather”
It’s estimated strawberry production in Louisiana is valued at 17-million-dollars.

The 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be headlines by Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Buffett and Lionel Richie. Producer Quint Davis says they will also be joining in the celebration of the City of New Orleans’ 300th anniversary. He says there will be a massive Cultural Exchange Pavilion featuring all things New Orleans…:
Cut 7 (10) “festival”
Jazzfest is April 27 to May 6 this year.

12:30 Newscast, January 23rd, 2018

The 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will feature Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin, Sting, Jimmy Buffet, Beck, Jack White, and Lionel Richie. Jazzfest will be April 27-29 and May 3-6 this year. Festival producer Quint Davis says Aerosmith will be making it’s Jazzfest debut, but they weren’t hard to bill…:
CUT 6 (08) “to do it”
The full lineup can be found online at nojazzfest.com.

The recent cold snap could mean a delay in the strawberry harvest this year, and a possible increase in price at the grocery store. Whitney Wallace, LSU AgCenter agent in Tangipahoa Parish, says farmers had to double-cover their berries to hold in warmer air, and keep the frigid temperatures out..:
Cut 3 (08) “great season”
She says that means additional labor costs, but it shouldn’t keep the prices too high on Louisiana strawberries very long.

It could be a record breaking year for offshore oil producers in Louisiana.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office says its investigating an incident in which a pedestrian was run over by a train. They say 43-year-old Damon Long of Houma was laying partially on the tracks, and as a train was backing up the engineer could not see the man who was then struck.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Pelicans trailed by 18 points last night, but rallied to beat the Chicago Bulls 132-128 in double overtime. Huge game for DeMarcus Cousins as he had a triple double, 44 points, 24 rebounds and 10 assists. No one has put up numbers like that in a game since Wilt Chamberlain did it 50 years ago. The Pelicans have won five of their last six.

The Fighting Tigers men’s basketball team has lost three straight and they host Texas A-and-M tonight. LSU’s latest loss was Saturday a 77-71 defeat to Vanderbilt. Wade says his team is failing to make winning plays down the stretch…
cut 17 (18) “…we are”
Tip-off is at 8 PM.

Nine years ago, Doug Pederson was the head coach of Calvary Baptist High School in Shreveport, now he’s leading the Philadelphia Eagles into Super Bowl 52 against the New England Patriots. Bossier City’s Terry Slack was an assistant coach on Pederson’s staff and says the former ULM QB has a gift for connecting with his players…
cut 14 (13) “…football games”

In other NFL news…Saints Guard Larry Warford has been added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster. He’s the seventh Saint to be named to the team, the most the franchise has had since the 2009 Super Bowl team. It’s the first Pro Bowl invite for Warford, who signed a four-year deal with the Black and Gold in March.

Former LSU Quarterback Lindsey Scott announces he plans on signing with Missouri next month after helping East Mississippi win a national junior college championship.

Louisiana Tech and North Carolina State have agreed to play each other in football in 2021, 2024 and 2025. The Wolfpack will visit the Bulldogs in 2025.

11:30 Newscast, January 23rd, 2018

The Lineup for the 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has been announced. Headliners include…Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffet, Sting, Aretha Franklin, Beck, David Byrne, Lionel Richie, Steve Miller Band, Anita Baker and Sheryl Crow. Jazzfest will be April 27-29 and May 3-6 this year.

Philadelphia’s Doug Pederson is the first person with ties to Louisiana to serve as a head coach in the Super Bowl. Pederson was a head coach at Calvary Baptist in Shreveport from 2004 to 2008, and is also a former ULM quarterback. Ex-Calvary Baptist assistant coach Terry Slack…:
Cut 14 (13) “football games”
Pederson and the Eagles will face New England in the February 4th Super Bowl.

A high school teacher from Livingston Parish has been arrested amid allegations she was having a sexual relationship with a minor. The Sheriff’s Office says 34-year-old Ashley Meyer, a teacher at Albany High School, was booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center on three felony counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and posted a $75,000 bond.

Entergy Louisiana has broken ground on a new 872-million dollar plant near Lake Charles. Spokesperson Michael Burns says the highly-efficient plant will lower energy costs for its customers…:
Cut 10 (11) “thirty years”
The natural gas fired plant is expected to be operational in June of 2020.

10:30 LRN Newscast January 23

Entergy Louisiana has broken ground on a new 872-million dollar plant near Lake Charles. The natural gas fired plant is expected to be operational in 2020. Entergy spokesperson Michael Burns says the state-of-the-art plant is expected to run much cleaner than previous plants, with greenhouse gas production in particular significantly lower…

Cut 11 (06) “40 percent.”

Entergy says they picked Lake Charles because of the regions rapid growth.

A record breaking year could be on tap for oil producers.  Crude oil topped $60.00 a barrel last week for the first time in over two years.  Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association President Chris John says since the cost of oil could top $70.00 per barrel, Louisiana operators and oil producers in West Texas are willing to ramp up production…

Cut 8 (11) “production year.”

A nationwide non-profit to help veteran’s in their post military transition to the workplace is coming to New Orleans.  NextOp represents veterans by placing them in jobs throughout the region.  After launching February 1st, they’re looking to expand statewide.  Louisiana Regional Manager Ben Armstrong says getting in touch with Louisiana veterans is their top priority…

Cut 6 (10)  “in Shreveport.”

Philadelphia’s Eagles Doug Pederson is the first person with ties to Louisiana to be a head coach in a Super Bowl.  He coached at Calvary Baptist in Shreveport and also is a former ULM quarterback.  Ex-Calvary Baptist assistant coach Terry Slack says Pederson’s faith is a driving force in his personal and professional life…

Cut 15 (11) “down the road.”

09:30 Newscast, January 23rd, 2018

Construction on a new power plant near Lake Charles is underway…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office say a teen died after being hit by a train in LaPlace. They say cops were called to the scene just before 8 Monday evening, and learned the 17-year-old apparently tried to walk across the tracks and beat the train but did not make it. The name of the teenager has not been released.

Philadelphia’s Doug Pederson is the first person with ties to Louisiana to serve as a head coach in the Super Bowl. Pederson was a head coach at Calvary Baptist and another former coach there, Terry Slack, says the Eagles coach is a football expert…:
Cut 13 (12) “really outstanding”
The Super Bowl is Sunday February 4th.

The U.S. is pumping out over ten-million barrels of oil per day, topping a nearly 50-year record, which is great news for the industry in Louisiana. President of the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Chris John, says domestic oil companies are in good shape globally, as Venezuela, for example, normally accounts for 20 percent of the world’s supply…:
Cut 9 (06) “to produce”
Louisiana’s 170 offshore operators are showing they can keep up with demand.

08:30 Newscast, January 23rd, 2018

Former ULM quarterback Doug Pederson takes his Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl. Jeff Palermo spoke with a friend of Pederson’s in Bossier City:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Jefferson Parish returned to the Capitol following his latest surgery as he recovers from injuries sustained in an ambush last June. He told reporters that the procedure two weeks ago was successful, but it took a long recovery.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival announces its 2018 lineup this morning at 11am.

A group that recruits, trains, and places veterans into industry careers is coming to New Orleans. NextOp Regional Manager Ben Armstrong says the challenge for many vets is that they are underemployed…:
Cut 5 (07) “meaningful careers”
He says there wasn’t a service like NextOp in the New Orleans market to assist veterans or military to try to engage them to keep their talent in Louisiana. They will launch February 1st. Find out more at nextopvets.org.

Entergy Louisiana breaks ground on a new 872-million dollar plant near Lake Charles, which is expected to employ over 700 people during construction. Entergy spokesperson Michael Burns…:
Cut 12 (08) “metropolitan region”
The natural gas fired plant is expected to be operational in June of 2020.

07:30 Newscast, January 23rd, 2018

It could be a record breaking year for offshore oil producers in Louisiana:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

This morning Governor John Bel Edwards is speaking at the 2018 Jump Start Convention in the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge. Jump Start is Louisiana’s career and technical education program.

The Big 10′s Maryland is reportedly expected to hire former LSU offensive coordinator Matt Canada for the same job. The Tigers and Canada parted ways earlier this month after just one season.

A nationwide non-profit to help veteran’s in their post military transition to the workplace is coming to New Orleans. NextOp represents veterans by placing them in industries throughout the region. Regional Manager Ben Armstrong says Louisiana has a lot of veterans looking for work…:
Cut 4 (09) “we’re here”
More information can be found at next-op-vets-dot-org.

Entergy Louisiana has broken ground on a new 872-million dollar plant near Lake Charles. Spokesperson Michael Burns says the highly-efficient plant will lower energy costs for its customers…:
Cut 10 (11) “thirty years”
The natural gas fired plant is expected to be operational in June of 2020.

06:45 Sportscast, January 23rd, 2018

The LSU men’s basketball team will look to snap a three-game losing streak tonight when they host Texas A-and-M at the PMAC. The Bayou Bengals had an opportunity to win all three games, so first-year head coach Will Wade still has faith in his squad…:
Cut 16 (17) “type games”
Tipoff is at 8pm.

In the NBA, what a night for DeMarcus Cousins and the New Orleans Pelicans. It took two overtimes for the Pels to get a thrilling 132 to 128 win over The Chicago Bulls. Cousins finished with 44 points and 23 rebounds. It was the 5th win in 6 for the Pels, their best six game mark of the season.

Philadelphia’s Doug Pederson is the first person with ties to Louisiana to serve as a head coach in the Super Bowl. Pederson was a head coach at Calvary Baptist in Shreveport from 2004 to 2008, and is also a former ULM quarterback. Ex-Calvary Baptist assistant coach Terry Slack says Pederson has a gift for connecting with his players…:
Cut 14 (13) “football games”
Pederson and the Eagles will face New England in the February 4th Super Bowl.

With the Eagles headed to the big game, another spot became open in next week’s Pro Bowl, and New Orleans right guard Larry Warford is now the 7th Saints player chosen for the game. This ties a team record for the Saints for most Pro Bowlers in franchise history.

The Big 10’s Maryland is reportedly expected to hire former LSU offensive coordinator Matt Canada for the same job.

06:30 Newscast, January 23rd, 2018

The U.S. is pumping out over ten-million barrels of oil per day, topping a nearly 50-year record. Forecasts show production could climb to eleven-million barrels a day by the end of 2019. President of the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Chris John, says markets such as China are hungry for more fuel, and Louisiana’s 170 offshore operators are showing they can keep up with demand…:
Cut 7 (10) “more oil”
Crude oil topped $60.00 a barrel for the first time in over two years.

Cops in LaPlace say a 17-year-old boy has died after being hit by a train last night. The St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office says the as-yet unidentified teen was trying to beat the train and cross the tracks in LaPlace, and didn’t make it.

Philadelphia’s Doug Pederson is the first person with ties to Louisiana to serve as a head coach in the Super Bowl. Pederson was a head coach at Calvary Baptist in Shreveport from 2004 to 2008, and is also a former ULM quarterback. Ex-Calvary Baptist assistant coach Terry Slack on Pederson:
Cut 13 (12) “really outstanding”
Pederson and the Eagles will face New England in the February 4th Super Bowl.

A retired Baton Rouge firefighter rescued a girl trapped inside a house fire Monday afternoon. Officials say the young girl was trying to run outside when she tripped and fell, just as the retired firefighter, Kevin Scott, was passing by and ran inside to save the girl.