06:45 Sportscast, January 31st, 2017

According to reports, Saints Coach Sean Payton his hired former 49ers coach Mike Nolan to be New Orleans’ new linebackers coach. Nolan’s father was head coach of the Saints from 1978-1980. He compiled an 18-37 record while with San Francisco from 2005-2008. Nolan’s last job before entering the NFL was LSU linebackers coach from 1985-86.

Former Tulane coach Curtis Johnson is leaving the Chicago Cubs as wide receivers coach, according to sources. He is reportedly weighing another option in the NFL. He was hired by the Bears last season after four seasons as head coach for The Wave.

In recruiting news, tomorrow is national signing day and Louisiana Tech landed a big commitment as Thibodaux cornerback Amik Robertson announced that he plans to sign with the Bulldogs. Neville defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis will announce his school of choice this afternoon. LSU, Alabama and TCU have been recruiting the four-star prospect.

In college hoops, the ULM men’s basketball team used a red hot shooting second half in route to its first Sun Belt Conference victory of the season with a 68-52 win over the visiting Little Rock Trojans on Monday night.

UL-Lafayette was defeated by Arkansas State in conference action, 88-69 in the Cajundome. Louisiana will return to action on Saturday when it visits Georgia State.

Grambling won for the 8th time in nine games at home in a wild game against Mississippi Valley State in overtime, 77-74.

Today Tulane will take on Temple at home.

Tomorrow night a struggling LSU Tigers team will take on South Carolina. The Gamecocks are 7-1 in the SEC and are one of the top defensive teams nationally.

In the NBA the Pelicans get back on the road today to face the Raptors in Toronto to begin a three game road trip.

In the SWAC, Southern Senior outfielder Dondraya Harris was named the preseason conference player of the year Monday.

 

06:30 Newscast, January 31st, 2017

For the first time in the state’s history, Louisiana’s transportation department is looking to see if a private company wants to help pay for highway projects to alleviate congestion along the I-10 corridor in the Baton Rouge area. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says investors have until March 31st to submit their proposals…:
cut 4 (11) “want to do”
Wilson says private firms that step up to the plate and help finance highway improvements would receive long-term financial contributions from the state.

A man from Zachary is under arrest for allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house, robbing and murdering her father before setting the house on fire — according to the East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s Office. State Police identified the victim as 54-year-old David Allen. 34-year-old James Rivers faces a host of charges in the December 2016 incident, including first degree murder, second degree robbery, false imprisonment and simple Arson.

The National Federation of Independent Business is waiting to see which regulations President Donald Trump has cut in an executive order. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Today Governor John Bel Edwards will speak at an economic development announcement with Entergy in St. Charles Parish. The news conference in Montz begins at 1:30pm.

 

AM Newscall January 31,2017

For the first time in the state’s history, Louisiana is willing to partner with  private companies in the construction of roads. Don Molino has the story…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

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The National Federation of Independent Business is waiting to see which regulations President Donald Trump has cut in an executive order. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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President Donald Trump announces tonight who he will nominate to replace the late Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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For the first time in the state’s history, Louisiana’s transportation department is looking to see if a private company wants to help pay for highway projects to alleviate congestion along the I-10 corridor in the Baton Rouge area. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says investors have until March 31st to submit their proposals

cut 4  (11) “want to do”

Wilson says private firms that step up to the plate and help finance highway improvements would receive long-term financial contributions from the state. He says public-private construction partnerships like this, attract companies who are part of the global market…

Cut 5  (04)  “major interchanges”

Louisiana has a 13-billion dollar transportation backlog and there’s not enough state dollars to address road and bridge repairs. But Wilson says private investment is an innovative way in getting the cash necessary to fund construction that can enhance traffic flow on I-10…

Cut 6 (06) “deliverying today”

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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to reduce regulations on small businesses and the National Federation of Independent Business is eagerly awaiting to see which restrictions are cut. State Director Dawn Starns says this order can only help business owners run and grow their businesses.

CUT 7 (11)  “its neck”

Starns says they are still learning about which exact regulations Trump reduced because the Obama administration placed so many restrictions on small businesses.

Cut 8 (10) “regulation”

Starns says she ultimately hopes the cost of compliance for small business drops and the complexity of laws they are required to follow are simplified.

Cut 9 (08)  “first step”

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President Donald Trump will announce who he plans to nominate for Supreme Court Justice tonight to replace the late Antonin Scalia. LSU Political Science Professor James Stoner expects Trump will appoint someone who will have a strong Republican voice on the nation’s highest court for at least the next couple of decades.

Cut 10 (10) “record”

One of the reported candidates is William Pryor of Alabama, who is a graduate Tulane and ULM. Stoner says he would be an interesting choice because he didn’t go to Yale or Harvard.

cut 11 (12) “or Yale”

Whoever Trump nominates, it will take 51 votes in the Senate to confirm. But it takes 60 votes to bring the nominee up for a vote on the floor. But Stoner expects the Senate will eventually go along with the president’s selection.

cut 12 (07) “is proposed”

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President Donald Trump is receiving backlash for imposing a travel ban to seven Middle Eastern countries. But Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins supports the president’s executive order. Higgins says there has been too much overreaction to something that was imposed to keep the country safe.

Cut 13 (10) “decisions”

Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond, says this executive order is immoral, unjust, and counterproductive. But Higgins says it’s necessary to take a temporary pause in immigration from these countries while we ramp up our vetting process.

cut 14 (09) “very reasonable”

The Archdiocese of New Orleans has publicly stated the travel ban goes against Catholic principles. Higgins does acknowledge there was some initial misinterpretation of the executive order. He says for the last eight years, under the Obama administration, the threat of radical Islamic terror was ignored.

Cut 15 (09) “called for”

18:30 LRN Newscast January 30th

President Trump’s travel ban is widely supported by members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A second person has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder of an off-duty Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s deputy. Prosecutors say 21-year-old Baylon Taylor was one of two men involved in the fatal shooting of Allen Bares who confronted Quintylan Richard and Taylor about a residential burglary in June of 2014.

With a 304 million dollar budget deficit and a special session coming up next month, does that mean more cuts to healthcare services? Angela Lorio, co-founder of Trach Mommas of Louisiana, hopes families of elderly and disabled people are prioritized as they are stressed enough
CUT 7 (09) “unconscionable”
She says tapping into the rainy day fund is a no-brainer.

The state health Department and the Louisiana Restaurant Association have teamed up to encourage dining establishments to offer more healthy dishes. Well-ahead Louisiana director Melissa Martin says this inititive includes healthier children’s menus…
cut 10 (10) “…fried meats available.
Visit Well ahead Louisiana’s website for more information.

17:30 LRN Newscast January 30th

A majority of Louisiana’s congressional delegation supports President Donald Trump’s travel ban executive order. US Representative Ralph Abraham represents the state’s 5th district…
cut 14 (11) “….that stuff”
Congressman Cedric Richmond the lone Democrat in the delegation opposes it, while GOP Senator Bill Cassidy wants it refined so that doctors from the countries named in the order can still travel in and out of the country.

4-year-old Isiah Winfrey of Metairie was hit and killed while walking with his mother along a highway in Jefferson Parish last night. State Police Trooper Melissa Matey…
CUT 5 (08) “as possible”
She says the driver has not been cited, since the boy ran into the path of the S-U-V.

Restaurants have teamed up with the Well Ahead initiative to offer healthier options on their menu. Well-Ahead Louisiana director Melissa Martin says the partnership will help restaurant goers make smarter food choices. And She says healthy food can still taste great…
cut 11 (09) “some of those calories”
To learn more about the initiative visit well-ahead-la.com.

Two weeks from today, a special session will likely begin to address a 304-million dollar budget shortfall. Health care services are on the chopping block, which is why Angela Lorio, who has a three-year-old son who uses a feeding tube, is demanding legislators use money from the Rainy Day fund to prevent deep cuts to health care…
cut 8 (11) “…Day fund”

16:30 LRN Newscast January 30th

A majority of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation supports President Donald Trump’s executive order placing travel bans on people from seven Middle Eastern countries. U.S. Senator John Kennedy supports the President’s order and says unlike former President Barack Obama, the Trump administration is enforcing America’s immigration laws…:
cut 12 (11) “of origin”
Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond opposes the order and tweeted that the Christian Right is wrong for being silent on this issue. It’s the silence of good people that allows evil to persist.

But Republican US Representative Ralph Abraham of the 5th district says the President is just trying to protect our borders.
Cut 15 (09) “his administration”

State Police say a 4 year old boy was run over and killed in Metairie, while he and his mother were walking along Airline Highway last night. She says they believe the child ran in front of the vehicle and the driver has not been charged…:
cut 4 (09) “the crash”
The child is identified as 4-year-old Isiah Winfrey of Metairie.

The state Department of Health and the Louisiana Restaurant Association have teamed up to encourage dining establishments to offer more healthy options on their menus. It’s part of the state’s ongoing Well-Ahead initiative. Well-Ahead Louisiana director Melissa Martin says they’ve developed a set of health and wellness benchmarks for restaurants..:
CUT 9 (10) “sodium content”
To find out what establishments meet these healthy standards, visit well-ahead-la.com.

16:45 LRN Sportscast January 30th

Former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan is reportedly the new linebackers coach for the Saints. Nolan is the son of former Saints head coach Dick Nolan and he was also a linebackers coach for the LSU Tigers in the mid-1980s. He was the head coach for the 49ers from 2005-2008 and he’s been a defensive coordinator for several teams including the Falcons, Dolphins, Broncos and Ravens.

In recruiting news, Louisiana Tech landed a big commitment as Thibodaux cornerback Amik Robertson announced that he plans to sign with the Bulldogs on Wednesday. Robertson also had offers from Texas, Houston, Kansas State and LSU was even interested.

Neville defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis will announce his school of choice tomorrow afternoon. He’ll make his decision at the gravesite of Tyrell Cameron, the former Franklin Parish football player who died after sustaining a hit on the football in September of 2015. LSU, Alabama and TCU have been recruiting the four-star prospect.

LSU baseball returns most of its position players from a team that won 45 games last season and reached the Super Regionals. But Coach Paul Mainieri says left field is up for grabs. Beau Jordan started a bunch of games in left field last year, but Mainieri says former St. Thomas More standout Brenen Breaux looks like a different player this year…
cut 18 (23) “…for the job”
Opening day is February 17th against Air Force.

College basketball tonight….the Ragin Cajuns host Arkansas State, who is one of the better teams in the league, and ULM is also home to take on Little Rock. Grambling will face Mississippi Valley in Lincoln Parish.

15:30 LRN Newscast January 30th

President Trump’s travel ban is widely supported by members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

For the first time in the state’s history, Louisiana is willing to partner with private companies in the construction of roads. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says over the next two months they’ll talk with firms who can help finance highway projects that would alleviate congestion along the I-10 corridor in Baton Rouge.

Could more cuts be coming to healthcare services in the special session called to close a $304 million dollar budget gap? Angela Lorio is worried she will lose state assistance for her 3-year-old son who uses a feeding tube. She says using the Rainy Day Fund to offset the shortfall is a no brainer..:
Cut 6 (10) “on that”
She says families of elderly and disabled people are stressed enough and it’s not fair to take away assistance they desperately need.

The state Department of Health and the Louisiana Restaurant Association have teamed up to encourage dining establishments to offer more healthy options on their menus.Well-ahead Louisiana director Melissa Martin this partnership is an opportunity to help residents make smarter food choices. She says they also encourage restaurant owners to have healthier children’s menu…
cut 10 (10) “…fried meats available.

14:30 LRN Newscast January 30th

Republican US Senator John Kennedy says he supports President Donald Trump’s executive order that bans citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States for 90 days. Kennedy says there has been a lot of overreaction…
cut 13 (10) “…the law”
Fellow GOP Senator Bill Cassidy also supports the ban, but is concerned about doctors from those countries having troubling traveling in and out of the U-S.

The staff at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge is trying to find the owner of a framed American flag. They believe it was left behind by one of the four-thousand flood victims they sheltered last August. On the front of the shadow box is the name Joseph Zikmund. Anyone who has information should contact Celtic media.

The state Department of Health and the Louisiana Restaurant Association have teamed up to provide healthy dining options. Michelle Southern reports…:
voicer 1 (29) “..I’m Michelle Southern”

Two weeks from today, a special session will likely begin to address a 304-million dollar budget shortfall. Health care services are on the chopping block, which is why Angela Lorio, who has a three-year-old son who uses a feeding tube, is demanding legislators use money from the Rainy Day fund to prevent deep cuts to health care…
cut 8 (11) “…Day fund”

LRN PM Newscall January 30th

The state Department of Health and the Louisiana Restaurant Association have teamed up to provide healthy dining options. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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President Trump’s travel ban is widely supported by members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A four-year-old boy was killed while walking along the shoulder of Airline Hwy last night in Jefferson Parish, according to State Police. Trooper Melissa Matey says Isiah Winfrey, of Metairie, was on the shoulder of the roadway with his mother when….

Cut 3 (10) “Suburban”

Matey says Winfrey was transported to a local hospital where he later died. She says the driver of the vehicle that hit the boy, 64-year-old Joe Hutshell of Jefferson, is not facing charges…

cut 4  (09) “the crash”

Matey says the investigation is ongoing. She reminds all drivers to pay attention to their surroundings, especially on area roadways and pedestrians should always walk against the flow of traffic.

Cut 5  (08)  “as possible”

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With a 304 million dollars budget deficit and a special session coming up next month, does that mean more cuts to healthcare services? Angela Lorio, co-found of Trach Mommas of Louisiana, is worried she will lose state assistance for her 3-year-old son who uses a feeding tube. She says using the Rainy Day Fund to offset the shortfall is a no brainer.

Cut 6 (10) “on that”

Lorio says she appreciates that Governor Edwards called a special session to open up other areas of the budget so cuts won’t be so deep to health care and education. She says the stress level and expenses the family of disabled people face already causes extreme stress and it’s not fair to take away assistance they desperately need.

CUT 7 (09)  “unconscionable” 

Lorio says the easiest decisions lawmakers have to make is dipping into the Rainy Day Fund. But she says that’s only 119 million dollars that helps offset cuts.

Cut 8 (11) “Day Fund”  

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The state Department of Health and the Louisiana Restaurant Association have teamed up to encourage dining establishments to offer more healthy options on their menus. It’s part of the state’s ongoing Well-Ahead initiative. Well-Ahead Louisiana director Melissa Martin says they’ve developed a set of health and wellness benchmarks for restaurants..:

Cut 9 (10)  “sodium content”

Establishments who meet the benchmarks will become a designated Well-Ahead WellSpot. Martin says in a time when Americans are eating out more than ever, this partnership with LRA is an opportunity to help residents make smarter food choices. She says they also encourage restaurant owners to have healthier children’s menus…:

Cut 10 (10) “fried meats available”

To become a designated WellSpot, or to find out what establishments meet these healthy standards, visit well-ahead-la.com. Martin says other wellness benchmarks they recommend for restaurants is to accommodate certain dietary restrictions, and prohibit smoking in outdoor sitting areas. She says Louisiana is known for its great food, but just because a dish is healthy doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor..:

cut 11 (09) “some of those calories”

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A majority of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation supports President Donald Trump’s executive order placing travel bans on people from seven Middle Eastern countries. U.S. Senator John Kennedy supports the President’s order and says unlike former President Barack Obama, the Trump administration is enforcing America’s immigration laws.

cut 12 (11) “of origin”

Senior U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy also supports the order but believes it could be refined to allow doctors from other countries to travel to their patients. Kennedy says there has been a lot of overreaction to the travel ban order.

Cut 13 (10) “the law“

Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond opposes the order and tweeted “The Christian Right is wrong for being silent on the issue. It’s the silence of good people that allows evil to persist.” But Republican U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham of Richland Parish is behind the travel ban 100-percent.

cut 14 (11) “that stuff”

Abraham says some people in disagreement are trying to portray the order as a Muslim ban, but that’s not the case at all. He says the President is just trying to protect our borders.

Cut 15 (09) “his administration”

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