11:30 LRN Newscast February 25th

Colonel Mike Edmonson has no plans to resign even though U-S Senator John Kennedy is calling on the head of the L-S-P to step down as result of four troopers charging the state overtime and hotel expenses while taking a side trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Edmonson says Kennedy doesn’t have the facts
cut 13 (08) “…those changes”
The governor has auditors within the Division of Administration looking into the incident and Edmonson state State Police is conducting its own review
Kennedy says if Governor Edwards wants to restore taxpayer confidence he’ll call in the legislative auditor to perform an independent investigation…
cut 16 (10) “…the truth”

Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District has been appointed to a task force to stop terrorists from entering the country. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Tomorrow Governor Edwards will meet with US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to discuss Medicaid expansion. His Communications Director Richard Carbo says Edwards will have a chance to tell Price about the impact expanding the Medicaid program has had on the Bayou State.:
Cut 6 (08) “on July 1″
The meeting comes amid discussions about repealing the Affordable Care Act.

10:30 LRN Newscast February 25th

US Senator John Kennedy is calling for the resignation of Colonel Mike Edmonson, the head of State Police. In an interview on Fox 8 New Orleans, Kennedy says Edmonson oversaw the waste of taxpayer dollars, when four troopers took a side trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon while attending a law enforcement conference in San Diego. Edmonson has launched his own investigation and announced changes to the State Police travel policy.

The Board of Regents decides to table a recommendation to increase the number of credit hours a TOPS student must take every year. There’s a proposal to up the yearly requirement from 24 to 30 hours. Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo says the Board did not want to place an additional burden on TOPS recipients…
cut 14 (09) “….want to look at”
Supporters of the credit hour increase say it would help students graduate in four years.

Governor John Bel Edwards is in Washington to talk flood recovery and Medicaid expansion with federal leaders. Michelle Southern has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission wants to start a new carnival tradition of safe and sober driving. Executive Director Dr. Katara Williams reminds revelers to “Protect Your Beads…
CUT 15 (10) “designated driver”
She says the five day Mardi Gras holiday period usually records more vehicle crashes with injuries or deaths than any other holiday in Louisiana.

09:30 LRN Newscast Feb 25th

The Board of Regents has decided not to move forward on a recommendation to increase the credit hour requirement to 30 hours for TOPS students and instead tabled the idea for more study. Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo supports the board’s decision to hold off on upping the hourly requirement from 24 hours….
cut 12 (10) “…more informatioN’
As of now, the TOPS scholarship program is not fully funded for next year, which means recipients may have to pay for a portion of their tuition again next school year.

Louisiana’s own Paul Rainwater has emerged as a top candidate to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The DeQuincy native has a lot of experience when it comes to disaster recovery. He once served as the executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority.

Grambling State University officials are working to have the undergraduate nursing program reinstated by 2018. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 5 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Mardi Gras revelers have been looking forward to this weekend. But executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Doctor Katara Williams, says if you consume alcohol, do not drive…
cut 16 (09) “…in Louisiana”

08:30 LRN Newscast Feb 25th

Tomorrow, Governor Edwards will meet with US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to discuss Medicaid expansion. The governor’s director of communications Richard Carbo says Edwards wants to ensure that people who finally have health coverage can keep it, as there’s talk of repealing the Affordable Care Act…:
CUT 7 (06) “Mr. Price”
He says the state’s uninsured rate is much lower because of the Medicaid expansion.

U-S Senator John Kennedy has told Fox 8 in New Orleans the superintendent of state police, Colonel Mike Edmonson, needs to resign. Governor John Bel Edwards has called an investigation looking into a taxpayer funded trip by four state troopers that included hotel stays at the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. Kennedy told investigative reporter Lee Zurik that he’s offended as a taxpayer that something like this would happen when the state is running a deficit.

A Gallup poll finds Louisiana has some of the most enthusiastic employees in the country. According to the survey, 36-percent of Bayou State workers are engaged. It also found people are more engaged when they are self employed. LSU Assistant Professor in theDepartment of Management Jeremy Beus (bus) says this makes sense for Louisiana where there are many small businesses.
cut 4 (05) “own freedom”
Alabama leads in engagement at 37-percent.

There’s an effort in Shreveport today to set the Guinness World Record for the longest wave line. They need at least 85-hundred people to participate and organizer Jake Wood says it will take plenty of volunteers to get everyone in place….
cut 11 (12) “…as a steward”
They’ll attempt to set this world record prior to the start of the Krewe of Gemini Parade on Clyde Fant Parkway.

07:30 LRN Sportscast February 25th

LSU pitcher Alex Lange was on his game last night as he led the Tigers to a 6-1 victory over Maryland. Lange struck out 12 in six innings to improve his record to 2-0. Catcher Michael Papierski put the game out of reach with a three-run homer in the eighth inning. LSU and Maryland meet again at 2 PM today.

Louisiana Tech improved to 5-0 with a three to one win over U-T Arlington in 10 innings. Jordan Washam tied the game with a single in the eighth inning and Marshall Boggs had a two-run single in the 10th inning.

Southeastern Louisaina scored seven runs in the sixth inning as the Lions beat 21st ranked Rice eight to four. The Ragin Cajuns blanked Sam Houston State two to nothing. Gunner Leger pitched six scoreless innings for his first win of the year. ULM snapped a three-game losing streak with a four to three win over Southern Illinois. Blake Buckman had an RBI single in the 11th inning for a walk-off win. Nate Reynolds tied the game with an RBI double.

The Pelicans are in Dallas tonight to take on the Mavericks, who lost at Minnesota last night. New Orleans has signed point guard Jarrett Jack to a 10–day contract. Jack played for the New Orleans Hornets from the 2010-12 seasons and averaged 11 points a game in 115 regular season contests. The Pels have also released Omri Casspi, who they acquired in the DeMarcus Cousins trade. Casspi broke his thumb on Thursday and is expected to miss a month.

LSU will look to avoid a school record 15th straight loss when they visit Georgia at 5 PM today.

Louisiana Tech has a seven game winning streak and the Bulldogs visit Rice tonight.

UNO can win a share of the Southland Conference regular-season title with a win this afternoon at Northwestern State. Southeastern can clinch a spot in the Southland Tournament if the Lions secure a win at Nicholls State. The Colonels are currently in ninth place in the league standings and a game back of Central Arkansas for the final spot in the tourney.

18:30 Newscast Feb 24

The Board of Regents did not move forward on plans to increase the credit hour requirement for TOPS students. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo supports a 30-hour requirement because it encourages students to finish their degrees in four years. But he says they had concerns about how the change would affect students.

Cut 13 (09) “higher education”

Currently TOPS students are only required to complete 24 credit hours a year.

On Sunday Governor John Bel Edwards will meet with US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to discuss Medicaid expansion. Governor’s Office spokesman Richard Carbo says Edwards wants to show federal officials how the ACA can benefit poor working class people.

Cut 8 (11) “Medicaid expansion”
The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission wants everyone to have a safe and happy Mardi Gras. Executive Director Katara Williams says, unfortunately, Mardi Gras revelers have a bad habit of getting behind the wheel when they’ve had too much to drink.

Cut 16 (09) “in Louisiana”

She encourages parade goers to designate a driver or make other arrangements.

The Shreveport Aquarium is letting the good times roll in a very different way this weekend, as they’ll attempt to break a Guinness World Record on Saturday. Aquarium spokesperson Jake Wood says they’re inviting people to help break the record for the longest wave line just before the Krewe of Gemini parade.

Cut (09) “a record”

More information is available at Shreveport-aquarium.com.

17:30 LRN Newscast Feb 24th

The Board of Regents decides to table a recommendation to increase the number of credit hours a TOPS student must take every year. There’s a proposal to up the yearly requirement from 24 to 30 hours. Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo says the Board did not want to place an additional burden on TOPS recipients…
cut 14 (09) “….want to look at”
Supporters of the credit hour increase say it would help students graduate in four years.

Governor Edwards on Sunday will meet with US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to discuss Medicaid expansion. The governor’s director of communications Richard Carbo says Edwards wants to ensure that people who finally have health coverage can keep it, as there’s talk of repealing the Affordable Care Act…:
CUT 7 (06) “Mr. Price”
He says the state’s uninsured rate is much lower because of the Medicaid expansion.

A new study from Gallup finds 36-percent of Louisiana workers say they are engaged or highly involved in their workplace. That’s tied for second highest in the country. LSU Assistant Professor in the Rucks Department of Management, Jeremy Beus says he’s suprised by this ranking, because Louisiana doesn’t have as many high paying jobs as other states…
cut 3 (11) “…have expected”
The Gallup poll finds states where workers are more engaged tend to have a high number of workers who are self-employed.

The plan is for the state to keep supplying the Tensas Parish town of St. Joseph with bottle water through at the least end of September. The state has been providing bottle water for the last two months because high lead levels were discovered in the water in over two dozen homes. Construction on a new water system for the town will take another eight months to complete.

16:45 LRN Sportscast Feb 24th

LSU faces Maryland for the start of a three-game series tonight. Coach Paul Mainieri says this weekend he’ll continue to evaluate who should be the Tigers primary designated hitter and left fielder….
cut 18 (10) “…my liking”
Maryland comes into the series with a 1-2 record and they are favorites to win the Big 10 conference.

In other action this weekend…ULM hosts Southern Illinois. The Warhwks have lost three straight and have been outscored 55-8 during that span. The Cajuns are Sam Houston State. UL Lafayette is 1-2 and they’ve scored just two runs in those three games. Louisiana Tech, who is 4-0, is at Texas-Arlington.

Southeastern Louisiana visits 21st ranked Rice and McNeese continues its series with seventh ranked Arizona. The Cowboys lost to the Wildcats 9-3 yesterday.

Former Tigers Quarterback Brandon Harris says he’s been talking with SEC schools as he’s looking to finish his college career after deciding to transfer from LSU. But wouldn’t mention any specific schools. Harris, who appeared as a guest on ESPN radio in Baton Rouge, also did not want to finger point, when asked why didn’t work at LSU. He says maybe it was the style of offense they played…
cut 30 (18) “…the problem”
Harris says it was a dream to play at LSU and called Les Miles one of the greatest coaches in the history of college football.

Basketball….LSU looks to avoid a school record 15th straight loss at Georgia tomorrow, while Louisiana Tech and UNO look to keep their winning streaks going. The Privateers are at Northwestern, while the Bulldogs visit Rice.

16:30 LRN Newscast Feb 24th

A Gallup poll finds Louisiana has some of the most enthusiastic employees in the country. According to the survey, 36-percent of Bayou State workers are engaged. It also found people are more engaged when they are self employed. LSU Assistant Professor in theDepartment of Management Jeremy Beus (bus) says this makes sense for Louisiana where there are many small businesses.
cut 4 (05) “own freedom”
Alabama leads in engagement at 37-percent.

On Sunday Governor John Bel Edwards will meet with US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to discuss Medicaid expansion. His Communications Director Richard Carbo says Edwards will have a chance to tell Price about the impact Medicaid expansion has had on the Bayou State.:

Cut 6 (08) “on July 1″
The meeting comes amid ongoing discussions at the nation’s capital about repealing the Affordable Care Act.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission wants to start a new carnival tradition of safe and sober driving. Executive Director Dr. Katara Williams reminds revelers to “Protect Your Beads…
CUT 15 (10) “designated driver”
She says the five day Mardi Gras holiday period usually records more vehicle crashes with injuries or deaths than any other holiday in Louisiana.

There’s an effort in Shreveport to set the Guinness World Record for the longest wave line. They need at least 85-hundred people to participate and organizer Jake Wood says they need plenty of volunteers to get everyone in place….
cut 11 (12) “…as a steward”
For more information go to Shreveport-Aquarium-dot-com.

15:30 LRN Newscast February 24th

A controversial proposal to increase the credit hour requirement for TOPS students has been tabled by the Board of Regents. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Governor John Bel Edwards is spending the weekend in Washington D-C. Today he was scheduled to meet with Acting FEMA administrator to discuss ongoing flood recovery and the recent tornadoes. Sunday, he’ll discuss Medicaid expansion in Louisiana with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price.

A Gallup poll finds Louisiana is tied for second in the country for the highest percentage of workers who are engaged or highly involved with their job. Gallup lists farming and fishing as two employment sectors that result in a high engagement of employees. LSU Management professor Jeremy Bues says the ag and seafood industry are two high employers in this state…
cut 5 (10) “”…want to do’

In Shreveport, they will try to set a record for the longest wave line and the plan is to do it before the Krewe of Gemini parade on Saturday. Shreveport Aquarium spokesperson Jake Wood says to be official, volunteers and drone cameras will watch the line and auditors will verify their counts…
cut 10 (08) “….today”
The current record stands at 8,453.