LRN Newscast 15:30 January 30, 2015

How does Mitt Romney’s decision not to run for president next year affect Governor Bobby Jindal? UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says it could be a good thing, since there’s one less main-stream contender that Jindal has to compete against…:
CUT 9 (10) “conservative wing”
2016 would have been Romney’s third run at the White House.

High school principals voted to continue the current split brackets between public and private schools in the state football playoffs for at least another year. Many Principal Norman Booker would like to see the split extended to other sports and might bring that proposal back again next year, if he believes private schools have a compeitive advantage over public schools…
CUT 13 (09) Q: “drawing board”
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said today that New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson is in complete control, and a positive force in the league…
CUT 30 (11) Q: ‘what he’s doing’
Goodell was asked about the lawsuit filed against Benson by three family members. He called that dispute unfortunate.

Some Common Core developments, as some members of the BESE board would like to have a special meeting after receiving reports that some students are opting out from taking Common Core tests. It’s not clear district-to-district what that would mean for student promotion, but even so, BESE member Lottie Beebe says they want to be pro-active…
CUT 5 (04) Q: “their concerns”
Meanwhile Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order today to protect those parents and districts who opt out, suggesting alternate assessment tests be given.

LRN Sportscast 16:45 January 30

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said today that Saints Owner Tom Benson is in complete control. Goodell made the statement after he was asked about the lawsuit filed against Benson by three of his family members who claim the 87-year-old owner is not mentally fit to make important business decisions….
cut 30 (11) “…what he’s doing”
Goodell called the family dispute unfortunate.

The high school football playoffs will remain split between select and non-select schools next season as the LHSAA has decided to give new executive director Eddie Bonine a year to solve the issues that created the split….
cut 14 (07) “…address them”
Bonine says one of his first acts when he officially takes over in March is to form a committee that will help develop possible solutions.

Pelicans All-star Anthony Davis is questionable for tonight’s home against the Los Angeles Clippers. Davis has a left groin strain. He’ll go through pre-game warm-ups, but head coach Monty Williams will make the final call on whether he plays. Tip-off is at seven P-M.

Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday as the Seahawks seek their second consecutive Lombardi Trophy. New England is no to stranger to the Super Bowl as well, but they have some new faces like former LSU wide receiver Brandon Lafell. JoJo says staying loose on game day will be one of his biggest challenges…
cut 18 (20) “….stay in the game”
Former Louisiana Tech punter Ryan Allen is also on the Patriots.

LRN Newscast 14:30 January 30, 2015

With Mitt Romney making the official announcement he is NOT running for president, what does that mean for Governor Bobby Jindal? ULL Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Romney passed on Jindal as a vice- presidential contender last time saying the two never really connected…:
cut 10 (09) “Romney does”
And Cross adds when a potential marquis candidate drops out, it helps all the remaining candidates.

State Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating another deadly house fire; this one in a mobile home in Avoyelles Parish that left 4 people dead…
CUT 8 (06) Q: “caused this fire’
That’s State Fire Marshal Butch Browning, who adds the victims’ ages ranged from 73 down to 10 years-old.
——————————-
Some members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education would like to see a special board meeting after receiveing reports that some students are opting out from taking Common Core tests . BESE member Lottie Beebe says there are questions about whether or not a student would be promoted if they chose not to take the test…
CUT 4 (09) Q: ‘across the state”

High school principals have voted to keep the current split between public and private schools that exists with the football playoffs, and the new executive director of the LHSAA, Eddie Bonine, says he wants to organize a committee to tackle the issues…
CUT 14 (07) Q: “address them”
He hopes to have solutions on a playoff format that high school principals can vote on next January.

13:30 Newscast January 30th, 2015

With Common Core testing scheduled for March, some families have decided on opting their kids out of taking the tests. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

Congressman Bill Cassidy has introduced legislation today that would ban taxpayer funds from being used for oil paintings of elected officials including the president, vice president or members of Congress. Cassidy says tax dollars should go to building roads or improving schools, not oil paintings very few people ever see or care about.

Four are dead after an overnight fire in Avoyelles Parish. State Fire Marshall Butch Browning says a father, grandmother, son, and daughter all perished in the blaze. The victims’ ages range from 10 to 73-years-old. Browning says firefighters tried to do a search of the mobile home, but the flames were too intense…:
CUT 7 (10) “the fire starting”
Browning says they believe the four victims were asleep at the time of the fire. The cause is under investigation.

High school principals vote to keep the current split between public and private schools that exists with the football playoffs and allow the new executive director of the LHSAA, Eddie Bonine, to develop solutions that could possibly bring the classes back together. Bonine says his first step will be to organize a committee to examine the issues that caused the split…:
CUT 12 (10) “many, many years”

 

PM LRN Newscall January 30

State Fire Marshal’s officials are investigating a Thursday night mobile home fire in Marksville that has left four dead. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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With Common Core testing scheduled for March, some families have decided on opting their kids out of taking the tests. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

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With Common Core testing scheduled for March, some families have decided on opting their kids out of taking the tests. BESE member Lottie Beebe says, according to information provided by the Department of Education, this will cause negative implications for schools and school systems…

CUT 3 (09)  “and school systems”

She says students who do not take the assessment test will be given a zero grade and that grade will passed on to schools and school districts. Beebe says another concern with this issue is whether or not a student who refuses to take the tests will be promoted. She says, right now, that’s up to the individual school districts, but it should be state policy…

CUT 4 (09)  “across the state”

So far, only a handful of families have opted their kids out of Common Core testing, but more are expected as the testing dates approach. Education Superintendent John White has recommended a “wait and see” approach, but Beebe says they need to be pro-active. She says BESE should hold a special meeting to address the “opt-out” movement…

CUT 5 (04)  “their concerns”

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State Fire Marshal’s officials are investigating a fire in Avoyelles Parish that has left four dead. Fire Marshall Butch Browning says the fire occurred just before midnight Thursday night at a mobile home in Marksville…

CUT 6 (07)  “in this fire”

Browning says a father, grandmother, son, and daughter all perished in the blaze. The victims’ ages range from 10 to 73-years-old. Browning says firefighters tried to do a search of the mobile home, but the flames were too intense…

CUT 7 (10)  “the fire starting”

Browning says they believe the four victims were asleep at the time of the fire. He says the mother of the children was at work when the blaze broke out. Browning says the investigation is in its initial stages…

CUT 8 (06) “caused this fire”

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Mitt Romney announces he’s decided not to run for president next year, so what could that mean for Governor Bobby Jindal? 2016 would have been Romney’s third run at the White House. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says Romney is one less main-stream contender that Jindal has to compete with…:

CUT 9 (10)  “conservative wing”

Cross says Romney passed on Jindal as a vice presidential contender last time saying the two never really connected so him bowing out of the race also helps The Governor…:

cut 10 (09)  “Romney does”

Cross says anytime one of the main candidates drops out of a presidential race, it’s a victory for all of the remaining contenders…:

cut 11 (11) “to go”

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High school principals vote to keep the current split between public and private schools that exists with the football playoffs and allow the new executive director of the LHSAA, Eddie Bonine, develop solutions that could possibly bring the classes back together. Bonine says his first step will be to organize a committee to examine the issues that caused the split

cut 12 (10)  “many, many years”

Many principal Norman Booker authored proposals to divide the postseason between public and private schools in other sports, but it was voted down. Booker says private schools have advantages in the student enrollment process over public schools and he’ll seek try to help come up with a solution as well

cut 13 (09)  “drawing board”

Bonine says he wants to take a hard look at the issues that caused the split, and see if he can solve those, before he proposes a playoff format that high school principals can vote on next January….

cut 14 (07)  “address them”

12:30 Newscast January 30th, 2015

With Common Core testing scheduled for March, some families have decided on opting their kids out of taking the tests. BESE member Lottie Beebe says, according to information provided by the Department of Education, this will cause negative implications…:
CUT 3 (09) “and school systems”
So far, only a handful of families have opted their kids out of Common Core testing, but more are expected to join so Beebe says BESE needs to hold a special meeting to address this issue.

A proposal to split postseason play between other sports than just high school football failed at today’s Louisiana High School Athletic Association annual converence. The proposal tried to convince fellow members of the LHSAA that the problems that led to the split in football exist with other sports. But new LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine urged schools to give him more time to come up with a solution that keeps seeks to keep everyone happy.

Political pundits say Governor Bobby Jindal is likely happy to hear that Mitt Romney has decided not to seek the White House spot in 2016. Romney, who would have been running for president for the third time, made the announcement to supporters today. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says anytime one of the main candidates drops out of a presidential race it’s a victory for all of the remaining contenders…:
CUT 11 (11) “to go”

Checking on today’s gas prices, it’s now been an entire week that they’ve stopped dropping. The American Automobile Association says the current statewide average for a gallon of regular is still $1.87.

 

11:30 Newscast January 30th, 2015

Mitt Romney announced Friday he’s decided not to run for president next year, so what could that mean for Governor Bobby Jindal? 2016 would have been Romney’s third run at the White House. UL-Lafayette Political Science professor Pearson Cross says this is one less main-stream contender that Jindal has to compete with…:
CUT 9 (10) “conservative wing”
Cross says Romney also didn’t want Jindal as a Vice President so this might make the Governor a more viable contender to the new Republican nominee.

The Louisiana Lottery says we’ve now hit the biggest Powerball jackpot of 2015 with tomorrow’s drawing worth a whopping $298 million dollars. They say we haven’t had a big jackpot winner in Louisiana since May 2013 so we’re due. Players are reminded that there are many prizes on the Powerball ticket and it only takes one to win. The current jackpot has a cash value of about $198.4 million dollars.

State Fire Marshal’s officials are investigating a Thursday night mobile home fire in Marksville that has left four dead. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

Louisiana 6th District Congressman Garret Graves was named Vice Chair for the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week. Graves will have jurisdiction over the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agencies — both of which oversee programs of concern to the Subcommittee.

 

11:40 LRN sportscast

A proposal to split postseason play between other sports than just high school football failed at today’s Louisiana High School Athletic Association annual converence. The proposal was from Many prinicpal Norman Booker who tried to convince fellow members of the LHSAA that the problems that led to the split in football exisit with other sports. But new LHSAA executive director Eddie Boninie urged schools to give him more time to come up with a solution regarding the split playoffs in football and that’s what they are doing.

Big win for Louisiana Tech basketball last night as the Bulldogs beat Western Kentucky 69 to 56. That’s 23 straight wins for Tech at home and they move into a first place tie with the Hilltoppers in the Conference USA Standings.

In the Sun Belt…U-L-M snapped a two-game losing streak with a 58-55 win in overtime over Troy, while the Ragin Cajuns fell to five and five in league play with an 89-85 loss to South Alabama. The Cajuns have lost five of their last six.

Sunday is the big game, Super Bowl 49. The Patriots versus the Seahawks. New England wide reciever and former LSU Tiger Brandon Lafell is fired up for his first Super bowl….
cut 17 (17) “….to come”
Other Louisiana connections to the Super Bowl. Former Louisiana Tech standout Ryan Allen is the Patriots punter. Northwestern State product Jeremy Lane is a defensive back for the Seahawks. Former LSU Tiger cornerback Tharold Simon is also on Seattle’s roster.

One of the top offensive tackles in the country have given a verbal pledge to LSU. Chidi Valentine-Okeke has picked LSU over Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. He’s six-foot-six, 306 pounds and a native of Nigeria. He currently plays high school ball in Georgia and there are concerns over whether he’ll be able qualify academically.

10:30 Newscast January 30th, 2015

After more Louisianians have been hospitalized and even died as a result of synthetic marijuana, Governor Bobby Jindal has announced the ban of multiple new synthetic marijuana compounds. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

US Senator David Vitter says he’s introduced legislation called the Steve Gleason Act of 2015 in the US Senate. He says the bipartisan proposal, which is endorsed by Team Gleason, would help patients diagnosed with ALS live more independent lives. Gleason was Vitter’s guest earlier this month at the President’s State of the Union in Washington D.C.

State Fire Marshal’s officials are investigating a fire in Avoyelles Parish that has left four dead. Fire Marshall Butch Browning says the fire occurred just before midnight Thursday night at a mobile home in Marksville…:
CUT 6 (07) “in this fire”
The victims’ ages range from 10 to 73-years-old. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Super Bowl is Sunday and a study out of Tulane finds that cities who have teams playing in the big game see a spike in flu deaths. Researcher Charles Stoecker says an interesting aspect of the study found the host Super Bowl location does not see an increase in flu…:
CUT 9 (10) “Super Bowl contenders”
He says based on county-level stats, there was an 18-percent increase in flu deaths among those over the age of 65 and in cities whose teams were in the Super Bowl.

 

09:30 Newscast January 30, 2015

A new study shows, on a per-capita basis, Louisiana ranks third nationally for inappropriate teacher-student relationships. Terry Abbott, a former chief of staff at the US Department of Ed and now chair of Drive West Communications, says school district leaders need to get serious about this problem and so do lawmakers, who can pass legislation to create stronger penalties for offenders…

cut 15 (07) “jail time”

Abbott says there’s already been six reported cases in 2015, which is disturbing.

A huge $298 million jackpot is up for grabs in tomorrow night’s Powerball drawing. Louisiana Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says when the jackpot gets high like this they find a lot of people play who don’t normally buy tickets…

cut 12 (09) “one to win”

Saturday night’s jackpot has a cash value of $198.4 million dollars.

The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man after the shooting injury of his son. Authorities say, during an altercation, 41-year-old Rendaill Proffit of New Iberia allegedly fired a gun at his son striking him in the leg. The victim was later treated and released from a local hospital. Proffit is facing charges of attempted second degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and illegal discharge of a firearm.

A study from Tulane suggests residents in Boston and Seattle better take steps to protect themselves from the flu. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”