07:30 LRN Sportscast

Bowl season has arrived and tonight at the Mercedes Benz Superdome the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs will take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves at 8 PM in the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Tech will have to figure out how to slow down Arkansas State’s rushing game. The Red Wolves are averaging 236 yards on the ground, while the Bulldogs have allowed 115 yards a contest. Tech running back Kenneth Dixon is two touchdowns away from tying NCAA record for career TDs.

LSU faces Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl on December 29th and the Red Raiders will not have their second leading receiver. Devin Lauderdale has been suspended by head coach Kliff Kingsbury for failure to uphold expectations of a student-athlete.

And UL Lafayette quarterback Brooks Haack has announced he’s transferring. Haack started eight games this past season and he threw for 14-hundred yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The Saints will host Detroit for Monday night football. New Orleans is a healthy team heading into this game as none of its players missed practice yesterday. Offensive lineman Terron Armstead and safety Jairus Byrd participated in practice on a limited basis.

In the NBA…the Pelicans fell behind by double digits in the first quarter last night and never could catch up as they lost to the Phoenix Suns 104-88. After the game, Coach Alvin Gentry said his team gave terrible effort.

In college basketball…Louisiana Tech improved to 9-2 with an 83-76 win over Southern. That’s 37 straight wins at home for the Bulldogs. ULM crushed Central Baptist 101-76. Majok Deng had a career-high 33 points. Colorado clobbered Nicholls State 85-68, Pepperdine pummeled UL Lafayette 79-59.

In the PMAC at one o’ clock today…LSU hosts an 8-4 Oral Roberts team on the SEC Network.

LRN Newscast 17:30 December 18

Leaders of three different state agencies say they are investigating allegations of wrongdoing involving outgoing Angola warden Burl Cain. State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson says he sent a team of invesigators to Angola…
cut 13 (09) “…through those”
Cain has said he’s done nothing wrong, but is leaving his post on December 31st.

A former investigator with the Washington Parish District Attorney’s office is indicted on allegations he used his position to force women who were facing drug charges to have sex with him. Mike Haley, chief deputy with the Washington Parish Sheriff’s office, says 66-year-old Michael Cotton of Bogalusa faces serious charges…
cut 5 (08) “….bond (2x)
Cotton was fired from his job with the D-A’s office in August.

The latest Star Wars movie is generating a lot of buzz. This Louisiana boy went on opening day and he says he’s the biggest Star Wars fan you’ll ever meet…
CUT 9 (07) “everything”
For it’s preview showings alone, “The Force Awakens” brought in a record breaking $57 million dollars at US box offices in one night.

There’s just one shopping weekend left until Christmas and folks that fell behind this year will be out and about Saturday and Sunday with list in hand. Saturday is known as “Super Saturday,” but LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice doesn’t think it’ll be as crazy as the day after Thanksgiving…:
cut 30 (10) “those numbers”
Rice says the good news for last minute shoppers is that they could be paying even less in stores as many sales have already kicked in.

LRN Sportscast 16:45 December 18

Louisiana Tech battles Arkansas State tomorrow night in the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Arkansas State brings an eight game winning streak into the bowl, while the Bulldogs suffered a blow out loss to Southern Miss in their regular season finale. Coach Skip Holtz says his team still has a bad taste in its mouth from that game…
cut 15 (14) “…the season”
A high scoring contest is expected as the Red Wolves average 41 points a game, while the Bulldogs have averaged 37 a contest. Kick-off in the Mercedes Benz Superdome is at eight o’ clock tomorrow.

Quarterback Brooks Haack is transferring from the UL Lafayette football program. Over the last three seasons, Haack has appeared in 21 games for the Cajuns and started eight games this past season.

On Monday night, it’s the Saints versus the Lions inside the Dome. After missing practice yesterday, free safety Jairus Byrd was back at practice today. Left tackle Terron Armstead also practiced on a limited basis. The Saints are 5-8 on the year, and could be eliminated from playoff contention before the game starts.

The Pelicans continue their five-game road trip tonight as they are in Phoenix. New Orleans is 1-and-2 on the trip and they beat the Suns the last time they were out west. Tip-off is at 9:30 on ESPN.

Interesting match-up in college basketball tonight as Louisiana Tech hosts southern. The Bulldogs are 8-2 on the year, while the Jaguars are seven and three. Elsewhere…UL Lafayette visits Pepperdine.

16:30 LRN Newscast December 18

A Vernon Parish man is in jail for first-degree murder after authorities determined he allegedly killed his finance and her nine year old son. Misty Marshall and the nine-year-old boy had not been seen since Thanksgiving. Sheriff Sam Craft says this tragic crime has rocked this rural area…
cut 8 (10) “…to dealing with”
Two other children belonging to Marshall were not harmed.

State Police and the State Inspector General confirm they are looking into possible wrongdoing by outgoing Angola Warden Burl Cain. There’s been reports Cain violated department rules in real estate transactions with relatives of inmates, but today officials said there’s other allegations they are looking into. Corrections Secretary James Leblanc couldn’t elaborate…
cut 14 (11) :…that way”
Cain has said he’s done nothing wrong.

A former investigator with the D-A’s office in Washington Parish is indicted by a grand jury amidst allegations he used his position to force women to have sex with him. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 1 (29) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

Frost is likely overnight as low temperatures will be in the 30s when you wake up tomorrow. A section of southeast Louisiana is under a freeze warning.

Duck Dynasty has reached a syndication deal with the Outdoor channel. The first six-seasons of the Louisiana-based reality TV show will begin airing on the Outdoor channel next month.

15:30 LRN Newscast December 18th

Leaders of three different state agencies say they are investigating allegations of wrongdoing involving outgoing Angola warden Burl Cain. State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson says he sent a team of invesigators to Angola…
cut 13 (09) “…through those”
Cain has said he’s done nothing wrong, but is leaving his post on December 31st.

A Vernon parish man is in jail on a two-million dollar bond after the bodies of his finance and her son were found. Sheriff Sam Craft says Matthew Dotson has been charged with first-degree murder
cut 7 (11) “…assistance”
Craft is not saying how 32-year-old Misty Marshall and her nine-year-old son were killed.

The latest installment of Star Wars is in theaters across Louisiana and the hype is everywhere you go. Michelle Southern reports…
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

Get ready for one of the coldest nights we’ve seen in awhile. In fact, a freeze warning is in effect for East Felciana, northern Tangipahoa, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Washington and West Feliciana Parishes. Low temperatures will be in the 30s tomorrow morning.

And the jackpot for Saturday night’s Powerball drawing is over 200-million dollars.

LRN PM Newscall December 18

A former investigator with the DA’s Office in Washington Parish has been indicted by a grand jury amidst allegations he used his position to force women to have sex with him. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

================

The latest installment of Star Wars opened Friday to an extremely eager audience and the hype is just about everywhere you go. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

===================

A former investigator with the DA’s Office in Washington Parish has been indicted by a grand jury amidst allegations he used his position to force women to have sex with him. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says 66-year-old Michael Cotton of Bogalusa allegedly threatened a female drug offender to obtain sex. He says the victims assisted in the investigation…:

CUT 3 (10)  “Mr. Cotton”

Haley says, between about March 2013 and July 2015, Cotton is also accused of helping a woman obtain drugs and use the influence of his position for sex with another woman…:

CUT 4 (08)  “that they had”

22nd Judicial District DA Warren Montgomery says it greatly disturbs him that a member of the criminal justice system would deal drugs and prey on the vulnerable. Cotton had been hired part time by the previous administration but was later fired by Montgomery in August. Haley says Cotton faces serious charges…:

CUT 5 (08)  “bond (2x)”

============================

The bodies of a Vernon Parish woman and her 9-year-old son have been found, and authorities have placed the victim’s fiance under arrest. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says family members reported 32-year-old Misty Marshall and her three children missing on December 4th. He says they were able to locate two children safe, but later discovered Marshal and her son, dead:

CUT 6 (11) “woods road”

Craft says Marshal’s fiance, Matthew Dotson, was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder and is currently being held on 2 million dollars bond. He says more charges could be coming…:(Craft says 32-year-old Misty Marshall, who had not been seen since before Thanksgiving, was located in a wooded area near New Llano, and her child was found near the home where he lived with his family in Simpson.)

CUT 7 (11) “assistance” 

Craft says they are unsure of motive at this time or how the two were killed, but they do believe their bodies were dumped around the end of November. He says this tragic crime has rocked these small communities…:

CUT 8 (10) “to dealing with”

============================

The latest installment of Star Wars opened Friday to an extremely eager audience and the hype is just about everywhere you go. For it’s preview showings alone, “The Force Awakens” brought in a record breaking $57 million dollars at box offices in the US. This Louisiana kid went on opening day and says he’s the biggest Star Wars fan you’ve ever met…:

CUT 9 (07)  “everything”

Star Wars Episode 7 has maintained a mid 90 percentile approval rating on the critic website Rotten Tomatoes which writes, “believe the hype.” This Louisiana kid dressed up as his favorite character to wear to the movie on opening day…:

cut 10 (06)  “right here”

This Louisiana Star Wars fan says he’s been waiting years to learn the next evolution of the story…:

Cut 11 (11) “kinda crazy”

______________________________________________________

Outgoing Angola Warden Burl Cain is the subject of an investigation conducted by multiple agencies. The Department of Corrections, State Police and the Inspector General’s office didn’t provide many details at a press conference. Inspector General Stephen Street says they are trying to get to the facts in an efficient manner…

cut 12 (10) “more efficiently”

Cain has served as Angola’s warden for 21 years, but is resigning effective December 31st. There’s been a series of investigative reports by the Advocate newspaper that’s looked into questionable real estate dealings involving Cain. State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson says he sent a team of investigators to Angola…

cut 13 (09)  “through those”

Cain has said he’s done nothing wrong. Greg Phares with the Inspector General’s Office says there are allegations that go beyond real estate transactions, but Corrections Secretary James Leblanc couldn’t elaborate

cut 14 (11)  “that way” 

14:30 Newscast December 18th, 2015

The bodies of a Vernon Parish woman and her 9-year-old son have been found, and authorities have placed the victim’s fiance under arrest. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says family members reported 32-year-old Misty Marshall and her three children missing on December 4th. He says they were able to locate two children safe, but later discovered Marshal and her son, dead:
CUT 6 (11) “woods road”
Craft says Marshal’s fiance, Matthew Dotson, was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder.

A man who crashed his vehicle in Thibodaux then was subdued by witnesses when he tried to flee, is charged with his 6th DWI according to police. Cops say when they arrived they suspected 29-year-old Mitchell Carrere was highly intoxicated and he ended up with a .196% BAC. He faces many charges including DUI number 6.

Outgoing Angola Warden Burl Cain is the subject of an investigation conducted by multiple agencies. The Department of Corrections, State Police and the Inspector General’s office didn’t provide many details at a press conference. Inspector General Stephen Street says they are trying to get to the facts in an efficient manner…:
cut 12 (10) “more efficiently”
There’s been a series of investigative reports by the Advocate newspaper that’s looked into questionable real estate dealings involving Cain.

The Star Wars craze has spread across Louisiana and we spoke with this fan today who said he’s been waiting for years to see The Force Awakens…:
CUT 11 (11) “kinda crazy”
For it’s preview showings alone, “The Force Awakens” brought in a record breaking $57 million dollars at box offices in the US.

 

13:30 Newscast, December 18th, 2015

The latest installment of Star Wars opened Friday to an extremely eager audience and the hype is just about everywhere you go. For it’s preview showings alone, “The Force Awakens” brought in a record breaking $57 million dollars at box offices in the US. This Louisiana kid dressed up as his favorite character to wear to the movie on opening day…:
CUT 10 (06) “right here”

The Holiday Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign begins today with increased patrols throughout the state. State Police Sgt. Nick Manale says law enforcement will be on the lookout for drivers who are getting behind the wheel impaired…:
CUT  (10) “joyous time”
According to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, during the 2014 holiday season, there were 671 fatal and injury crashes and 99 involved alcohol.

A former investigator with the DA’s Office in Washington Parish has been indicted on extortion charges by a grand jury amidst allegations he used his position to force women to have sex with him. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says 66-year-old Michael Cotton of Bogalusa allegedly helped a woman obtain drugs and use the influence of his position for sex with another woman…:
CUT 4 (08) “that they had”
22nd Judicial District DA Warren Montgomery says it greatly disturbs him that a member of the criminal justice system would deal drugs and prey on the vulnerable.

There’s a messy battle playing out between LSU and it’s former defensive coordinator John Chavis. Apparently the university made alterations to Chavis’ contract after he signed it, but LSU claims they were nominal and did not affect terms. A judge has also ordered Chavis to turn over his phone records. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it would probably be best for both sides to settle…:
CUT  (09) “very careful”

 

12:30 Newscast, December 18th, 2015

A former investigator with the DA’s Office in Washington Parish has been indicted by a grand jury amidst allegations he used his position to force women to have sex with him…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The latest installment of Star Wars opened Friday to an extremely eager audience and the hype is just about everywhere you go. For it’s preview showings alone, “The Force Awakens” brought in a record breaking $57 million dollars at US box offices in one night. This Louisiana kid went on opening day and says he’s the biggest Star Wars fan you’ve ever met…:
CUT 9 (07) “everything”

The bodies of a Vernon Parish woman and her 9-year-old son have been found, and authorities have placed the victim’s fiance under arrest. The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Misty Marshall, who had not been seen since before Thanksgiving, was located in a wooded area near New Llano, and her child was found near the home where he lived with his family. Marshal’s fiance, Matthew Dotson, was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder but officials say additional charges are pending. The case is under investigation.

State Police say the stepped up patrols begin today as efforts get underway to keep drunk drivers off the road for the holiday. Sgt. Nick Manale says the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign runs through January 3rd. He says over the Thanksgiving holiday they saw a high number of traffic fatalities and want to prevent that from happening again…:
CUT 7 (09) “all safe”
During the 2014 holiday season, there were 671 fatal and injury crashes and 99 involved alcohol.

 

 

LRN sportscast 11:40

There’s a messy battle playing out between LSU and it’s former defensive coordinator John Chavis. Apparently the university made alterations to Chavis’ contract after he signed it, but LSU claims they were nominal and did not affect terms. A judge has also ordered Chavis to turn over his phone records. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it would probably be best for both sides to settle…:
CUT 12 (09) “very careful”

Interesting match-up in college basketball tonight as Louisiana Tech hosts southern. The Bulldogs are 8-2 on the year, while the Jaguars are seven and three. Elsewhere…UL Lafayette visits Pepperdine.

In the NBA…the Pelicans are at Phoenix tonight. New Orleans has just seven wins on the year, but two of them are against the Suns. Tip-off is at 9:30 on ESPN.

Saturday marks the end of a great college career for Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon. His Bulldogs will play Arkansas State in the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Dixon has 83 career touchdowns and he’s the all-time leading rusher in Bulldog history. Tech head coach Skip Holtz says Dixon has been hampered by an ankle injury, but he’ll be ready to go Saturday night…
cut 14 (08) “…of the season”
Arkansas State brings an eight game winning streak into the bowl, while the Bulldogs suffered a blow out loss to Southern Miss in their regular season finale.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that new ULM head coach Matt Viator has hired former Louisiana Tech quarterback Matt Kubik to be his offensive coordinator. Kubik was the offensive coordinator for Stephen F Austin this past season and helped the Lumberjack offense average 26 points a game in 2015.

And ULM football has agreed to a home-and-home series with Memphis.