08:30 Newscast March 9, 2015

A Baton Rouge lawmaker will file a bill for the upcoming legislative session that seeks to let citizens vote on on the legalization of marijuana in Louisiana for recreational use…

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

State Police say a hit-and-run accident in St. James Parish claimed the life of a Vacherie woman. Authorities say 24-year-old Corey Newton ran a red light and struck a vehicle driven by 25-year-old Brittany Harris, causing her vehicle to leave the road and hit a utility pole. Harris was pronounced dead at the scene. Newton fled the scene on foot, but was captured a short time later and charged with vehicular homicide, DWI, and other charges.
A Louisiana physician is working on a way to perfect a permanent solution to sleep apnea. Dr. G. E. Ghali, an oral surgeon and instructor with LSU Health Shreveport, says they’ve come up with a treatment which uses the daVinci Robot inside a person’s mouth. He says they’ve had a 90% success rate in the surgery permanently opening up airways of sleep apnea patients…

cut 9 (04) “a mask, comfortably”

Ghali says recovery from the surgery can take several weeks, but many patients report that after a month or two they are feeling better, sleeping better and sleeping in bed with their spouse again.

According to the personal finance site badcredit-dot-org, Lafayette has been named as one of the top 20 hardest working cities in the US. Editor Steven Richmond says this list represents some of the busiest, hardest working, and most workaholic populations in the US…

cut 12 (11) “they put in”

Richmond says about 350 cities were ranked on four separate categories for this report.

07:30 Newscast March 9, 2015

Baton Rouge Representative Dalton Honore will file a bill for the upcoming legislative session that seeks to let citizens vote on whether or not marijuana should be legal in Louisiana for recreational use. Honore says he hopes other lawmakers will get on board with letting people decide whether or not marijuana for recreational use should be legal…

cut 14 (08) “people vote for it”

Honore is also bringing back his medical marijuana bill which failed last year. The legislative session begins April 13th.

A Louisiana physician is working on a permanent solution to sleep apnea. Dr. G. E. Ghali, an oral surgeon and instructor with LSU Health Shreveport, says they’ve come up with a treatment for that which uses the daVinci Robot inside a person’s mouth…

cut 8 (11) “in the pallet”

Ghali says if you are interested in learning more about the procedure, call 318-675-6101.

Lafayette has been recognized as one of the top 20 hardest working cities in the US by the personal finance site badcredit-dot-org. Editor Steven Richmond says Lafayette scored high in the number of people in the workforce…

cut 11 (09) “in Lafayette”

Richmond says they used data from the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to compile their report.

We all lost an hour of sleep, with the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, but State Police says that’s no excuse to drive fatigued. Sgt. Nick Manale says if you do feel yourself becoming fatigued while driving, there are some things you can do to help yourself…

cut 5 (06) “do something”

He says they often see accidents that were caused by sleepy drivers, so it’s imperative to be sharp behind the wheel.

06:45 Sportscast March 9, 2015

Spring football is underway for the LSU Tigers. A point of emphasis is the passing game. The Tigers ranked 114th in the country in pass offense last year and Coach Les Miles says they will throw it a lot this spring…

cut 16 (11) “will be fun”

Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris will once again battle to be the starting quarterback.

Kyle Hornsby’s three pointer as time expired lifted LSU over 18th ranked Arkansas 81-78 in Fayetteville. The Tigers finish the regular season 22-9 record and get the fourth-seed in the SEC Tournament. LSU’s first tournament game will be Friday afternoon in Nashville.

The Sun Belt tournament kicks off Thursday in New Orleans. ULM earned a number three seed in the tourney, while UL-Lafayette picks up the four seed. Both teams receive first round byes and will play Friday.

The Southland Conference tournament gets underway Wednesday with number 8 Southeastern Louisiana facing fifth seed McNeese followed by seventh seeded UNO versus number six Nicholls State.

In college baseball, the second ranked LSU Tigers went 3-0 at the Houston College Classic after Sunday’s 4-2 win over Nebraska at Minute Maid Park. The Tigers extend their winning streak to 12 games, their longest since 2013. LSU will host Nicholls State Wednesday night at Alex Box Stadium before opening SEC play over the weekend when Ole Miss comes to Baton Rouge.

UL-Lafayette swept their three game series with Troy over the weekend opening their Sun Belt Conference Schedule. The Cajuns improve to 10-5 on the season and will host UNO tomorrow night.

ULM lost two out of three against Texas State. The Warhawks are 7-6 and will host Grambling tomorrow night.

In the Southland, McNeese took two of three over Houston Baptist, UNO was swept by Sam Houston State, Nicholls won two of three over Abilene Christian, Southeastern Louisiana bested Incarnate Word two out of three game, and Northwestern State swept their three game series over Lamar.

06:30 Newscast Monday March 9, 2015

A Baton Rouge lawmaker will file a bill for the upcoming legislative session that seeks to let citizens vote on the legalization of marijuana in Louisiana for recreational use. Recreational marijuana for adult use is legal in Oregon, Washington D.C., Colorado, Alaska and Washington. Representative Dalton Honoresays people should be able to vote on the recreational pot law…

cut 13 (09) “with the legislators”

He is also bring back his medical marijuana bill which failed last year.

With the beginning of Daylight Saving Time over the weekend, everyone lost an hour of sleep. But State Police says that’s no excuse to drive fatigued. Sgt. Nick Manale says they often see accidents that were caused by sleepy drivers, so it’s imperative to be sharp behind the wheel…

cut 4 (08) “roadway, there”

Manale says sleepy driving can be as dangerous as impaired or distracted driving.

A Louisiana physician is working on a way to perfect a permanent solution to sleep apnea. Dr. G. E. Ghali, an oral surgeon and instructor with LSU Health Shreveport, says apnea patients are often given CPAP masks to ensure oxygen flow but the problem there is compliance…

cut 7 (08) “necessarily fit”

He says they’ve come up with a treatment for that which uses the daVinci Robot inside a person’s mouth.

Lafayette has been named as one of the top 20 hardest working cities in the US by the personal finance site badcredit-dot-org. Editor Steven Richmond says about 350 cities were ranked on four separate categories for this report…

cut 10 (08) “making the list”

Richmond says they looked at percentage of population over age 16 in the workforce, average commute times, percentage of households with children, and average number of hours worked each week to compile their list.

LRN AM Newscall Monday March 9th ##sports cuts have been added##

With the beginning of Daylight Saving Time over the weekend, everyone lost an hour of sleep. But State Police says that’s no excuse to drive fatigued. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

______________________________________

Lafayette has been named as one of the top 20 hardest working cities in the US by the personal finance site badcredit-dot-org. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

A Baton Rouge lawmaker will file a bill for the upcoming legislative session that seeks to let citizens vote on whether or not marijuana should be legal in Louisiana for recreational use. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

______________________________________

With the beginning of Daylight Saving Time over the weekend, everyone lost an hour of sleep. But State Police says that’s no excuse to drive fatigued. Sgt. Nick Manale says they often see accidents that were caused by sleepy drivers, so it’s imperative to be sharp behind the wheel…

cut 4  (08)  “roadway, there”

Manale says if you do feel yourself becoming fatigued while driving, there are some things you can do to help yourself…

Cut 5  (06)  “do something”

Manale suggests pulling over and getting a breath of fresh air, stepping out of the car, or getting something to drink as ways you can revive yourself if you begin to feel fatigued behind the wheel. Manale says sleepy driving can be as dangerous as impaired or distracted driving…

Cut 6 (10)  “avoiding crashes”

______________________________________

A Louisiana physician is working on a way to perfect a permanent solution to sleep apnea. The condition, which causes people to not get enough air while they are sleeping, affects more than three million people in the US. Dr. G. E. Ghali, an oral surgeon and instructor with LSU Health Shreveport, says apnea patients are often given CPAP masks to ensure oxygen flow but the problem there is compliance…:

CUT 7 (08)  “necessarily fit”

Ghali says since CPAP masks aren’t perfect, some people choose surgery that removes excess tissue down the throat and at the base of the tongue. He says they’ve come up with a treatment for that which uses the daVinci Robot inside a person’s mouth…:(Ghali says if you are interested in learning more about the procedure, call 318-675-6101.)

Cut 8  (11)  “in the pallet” 

Ghali says recovery from the surgery can take several weeks, but many patients report that after a month or two they are feeling better, sleeping better and sleeping in bed with their spouse again. He says they’ve had a 90% success rate in the surgery permanently opening up airways of sleep apnea patients…:

Cut 9 (04)  “a mask, comfortably”

______________________________________

Lafayette has been named as one of the top 20 hardest working cities in the US by the personal finance site badcredit-dot-org. Editor Steven Richmond says about 350 cities were ranked on four separate categories for this report…

Cut 10 (08) “making the list”

Richmond says they looked at percentage of population over age 16 in the workforce, average commute times, percentage of households with children, and average number of hours worked each week to compile their list. He says Lafayette scored high in the number of people in the workforce…

cut 11 (09) “in Lafayette”

Richmond says they used data from the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. He says says this list represents some of the busiest, hardest working, and most workaholic populations in the US…

cut 12 (11)  “they put in”

______________________________________

A Baton Rouge lawmaker will file a bill for the upcoming legislative session that seeks to let citizens vote on whether or not marijuana should be legal in Louisiana for recreational use. Representative Dalton Honore is also bringing back his medical marijuana bill which failed last year. He says people should be able to vote on the recreational pot law…:

Cut 13 (09)  “with the legislators”

Recreational marijuana for adult use is legal in Oregon, Washington D.C., Colorado, Alaska and Washington. Honore says he hopes other lawmakers will get on board with letting people decide whether or not marijuana for recreational use should be legal…:

Cut 14 (08) “people vote for it”

The legislative session begins April 13th. Honore says regardless of how lawmakers feel about the recreational use of marijuana, they should at least allow the issue to be put on a ballot…:

Cut 15  (08)  “in 2016”

______________________________________

Spring football is underway for the LSU Tigers. A point of emphasis is the passing game. The Tigers ranked 114th in the country in pass offense last year and Coach Les Miles says they will throw it a lot this spring

Cut 16  (11)  “will be fun”

Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris will once again battle to be the starting quarterback. It’s the second spring practice for Harris, while Jennings is looking to be the starter for a second consecutive year. Miles says both Q-Bs have matured since last year

Cut 17 (19)  “those things”

Spring practice gives new LSU defensive coordinator Kevin Steele a chance to install his defense. Miles says the Tigers ‘D” should look to familiar to fans

Cut 18 (15) “carry over’

______________________________________

10:30 Newscast March 7, 2015

A staple in the agriculture broadcasting industry, Mike Danna, has died of cancer at the age of 54. Danna was the director of public relations for the Louisiana Farm Bureau and host of This Week in Louisiana Agriculture. Louisiana Farm Bureau spokesperson Neil Melancon says Danna extended the public relations department to not only cover ag in Louisiana, but all over the world…

cut 13 (10) “to everyone”

Melancon says Danna spent more than 30 years in agriculture journalism coming to work for the Farm Bureau in 1985.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says 52-year-old Richard Picard Jr. of New Iberia is charged with the illegal killing of a Louisiana Black Bear during a hog hunt in St. Mary Parish. LDWF spokesman Adam Eick says it happened while hunting on private land when their dogs starting chasing the bear…

cut 10 (08) “with a buck shot”

Picard faces 120 days in jail and fines and restitution totaling more than $10,000.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says a fire at a home in Lake Providence has claimed the life of a 63-year-old woman. Officials say the body of Carrie Bell Phoenix was found in a passageway between the kitchen and dining room area. The victim lived in the home with her 45-year-old special needs daughter who escaped the blaze unharmed. She told authorities her mother stayed behind to try to extinguish the fire. Investigators say the likely cause of the fire was an electric space heater in a back bedroom.

It’s a nice start to the weekend weather-wise in Louisiana, but it is not expected to last. Michelle Southern has more…

cut 1 (28) “reporting”

09:30 Newscast March 7, 2015

32-year-old Demetri Robinson, a former tight end on LSU’s 2003 national championship team, has been sentenced to five decades in prison for his involvement in a 2011 truck stop casino shooting in Port Allen. Robinson pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted second degree murder. West Baton Rouge Parish Prosecutor Tony Clayton says Robinson received the maximum sentence…

cut 6 (07) “what he did”

Robinson was sentenced to 50 years in prison on each count, to be served concurrently.

It appears things will be bright as we start the weekend, but that will change tomorrow. Andy Tingler, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says rain chances will increase Sunday and not really drop off until maybe Thursday of next week, with some areas expected to accumulate two to three inches of rain. Tingler says temperatures will be a little below average for the coming week…

cut 5 (06) “for the lows”

He says the state can expect gray skies and light rain for much of next week.

State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries officials say a man is charged with the illegal killing of a Louisiana Black Bear while he was hog hunting in St. Mary Parish. LDWF spokesman Adam Eick says 52-year-old Richard Picard Jr. of New Iberia accidentally shot the animal thinking it was a feral hog…

cut 9 (07) “12 gauge shot gun”

Picard faces 120 days in jail and more than $10,000 in fines and restitution.

Mike Danna, a staple in the agriculture broadcasting industry, has died of cancer at the age of 54. He passed away peacefully in his sleep shortly before 9am Friday morning. Louisiana Farm Bureau spokesperson Neil Melancon says Danna’s biggest passion was his career…

cut 12 (11) “or form”

Danna was the director of public relations for the Louisiana Farm Bureau and host of This Week in Louisiana Agriculture.

08:30 Newscast March 7, 2015

Mike Danna, a staple in the agriculture broadcasting industry, has died of cancer at the age of 54. Danna was the director of public relations for the Louisiana Farm Bureau — spokesman Neil Melancon reports…

cut 2 (33) “I’m Neil Melancon”

A Carencro Catholic School student will take part in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Megan Lavergne took the grand championship in the 2015 Kiwanis Regional Spelling Bee in Lafayette. Lavergne receives an all-expenses paid trip to the national competition to be held May 24th through the 29th in Washington, DC.

A former tight end on LSU’s 2003 national championship team has been sentenced to five decades in prison for his involvement in a 2011 truck stop casino shooting in Port Allen. 32-year-old Demetri Robinson pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted second degree murder. West Baton Rouge Parish Prosecutor Tony Clayton says when Robinson opened fire he missed hitting two employees in the casino…
cut 8 (06) “of it now”

Robinson was sentenced to 50 years in prison on each count, but each count is set to be served concurrently.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has charged 52-year-old Richard Picard Jr. of New Iberia with the illegal killing of a Louisiana Black Bear while he was hog hunting in St. Mary Parish. LDWF spokesman Adam Einck says one of the very first rules of hunter safety is to identify the target before pulling the trigger and know what you are shooting at…

cut 11 (11) “would be”

Picard faces more than $10,000 in fines and restitution and 120 days in jail.

07:30 Sportscast March 7, 2015

Trailing by five going into the fourth quarter, Baton Rouge’s University High went on a 18-1 run on their way to winning the girls’ Class 3-A state championship with a 52-42 victory over Mansfield. The Cubs were lead by championship game MVP Alanie Fisher’s 21 points. This is U-HIgh’s second straight state girls’ basketball championship.

Also at the Girls’ Top 28 in Lake Charles, Lacassine topped Stanley, 54-43, to capture the Class B championship. This was the fourth straight finals appearance for the Lady Cards and their first championship in that time frame.

And in the Class C state championship game, Summerfield outlasted Pleasant Hill 31-26 in overtime.

There are four more state championship games on the slate tonight in Burton Coliseum.

In Class 1-A, Lebeau’s North Central takes on Vermilion Catholic.

The 2-A championship game sees Pickering facing North Caddo.

New Orleans’ Warren Eason and Salmen go at it for the Class 4-A title.

And in Class 5-A, Ponchatoula faces Walker.

In the NBA, the Pelicans lost to the Celtics 104-98. Anthony Davis lead all scorers with 29 and Eric Gordon added 20 for the Pels. The Pelicans hope to rebound tonight as they host the Memphis Grizzlies.

In college baseball, the second ranked LSU Tigers beat number eight Houston 4-2. Jared Poche’ picked up the win giving up only four hits. LSU has won 10 in a row and will take on Baylor this afternoon.

In Sun Belt Conference play, it was UL-Lafayette over Troy 6-5 in 11 innings and Texas Stated edged ULM 4-3.

It was a busy day in the Southland Conference. Southeastern Louisiana topped Incarnate Word 5-3, Northwestern State defeated Lamar 4-2, Abilene Christian beat Nicholls State 3-2, Sam Houston State crushed UNO 12-4, and McNeese split a double-header with Houston Baptist: The Cowboys won game 1, 2-1, and fell in the second game 4-3.

17:30 Newscast March 6th, 2015

Mike Danna, a staple in the agriculture broadcasting industry, has died of cancer at the age of 54. He was the director of public relations for the Louisiana Farm Beureau and host of This Week in Louisiana Agriculture. Neil Melancon worked for him for 19 years…:
cut 12 (11) “or form”
Danna died after a long battle with a rare form of cancer.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a man is charged with the illegal killing of a Louisiana Black Bear while he was hog hunting in St. Mary Parish. LDWF spokesman Adam Eick says 52-year-old Richard Picard Jr. accidentally shot the animal thinking it was a feral hog…:
CUT 9 (07) “12 gauge shot gun”
Picard has to pay a $10,000 civil restitution.

After some really cold weather today, it appears things will brighten up heading into the weekend. Andy Tingler, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says chances of rain will be back Sunday, and after that…
CUT 5 (06) Q: ‘for the lows”
Baton Rouge set a record low this morning of 26 degrees and record lows were tied in Shreveport and New Orleans.

A former tight end on LSU’s 2003 national championship team has been sentenced to five decades in prison for his involvement in a 2011 truck stop shooting in Port Allen. 32-year-old Demetri Robinson pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted second degree murder, one day before his trial was scheduled to begin. West Baton Rouge Prosecutor Tony Clayton says when Robinson opened fire he missed hitting two employees in the casino
CUT 8 (06) Q: ‘of it now’
Robinson was sentenced to 50 years.