09:30 Newscast January 14, 2015

State Police is requesting a 30% pay hike for many of its troopers. If lawmakers approve the money shift, starting pay with benefits for troopers would go from about $35,600 a year to $46,600 a year. Col Mike Edmonson expects this will be approved as he’s heard nothing negative from lawmakers on this matter…

cut 15 (10) “decision”

This will be the first raise for rank-and-file troopers since 2002.

An L-S-U Health Sciences Center researcher hopes sea moss found in the Pacific Ocean could be used to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Doctor Steven Alexander says Bryostatin may not be able to cure a person who has Alzheimer’s, but he’s hopeful it could stop the memory loss…

cut 6 (11) “life quality”

Alexander says they are seeking FDA approval to begin clinical trials on humans.

So far, Senator David Vitter has raised $4 million dollars for his bid to become governor of Louisiana. According to his campaign, almost 90-percent of the contributions are from in-state donors. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says that’s impressive, but it’s not the whole story…

cut 10 (12) “David Vitter’s campaign”

Louisiana’s gubernatorial primary is in October.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is excited about the opening of its brand new student union today. Garland “Chico” Rodriguez , Assistant Director of Building Services says the two year project now sees the bookstore, Cajun Card office, and much much more…

cut 7 (12) “semester basis”

Rodriguez says the student government association and university program council will also be moving into the new building.

08:30 Newscast January 14, 2015

Senator David Vitter announces he’s raised $4 million dollars for his bid to become governor of Louisiana. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says a Vitter-friendly Super PAC has raised another 3.9 million dollars. He says Vitter is raising money through his Senate finance campaign account, which can’t be used directly on his gubernatorial campaign, but can be donated to the Super PAC…

cut 11 (10) “it’s unprecedented”

He says Vitter is re-writing the book on campaign finance in Louisiana.

State Police is requesting a 30% pay increase for many troopers. Some have been critical of the timing of the increase as the state faces budget woes and the price of oil is so low, but Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson says this has been a long time coming…

cut 14 (10) “they’ve done that”

He says the money is coming from a special fund approved in last year’s legislative session.

Two young siblings were killed in a house fire in Bastrop Monday and now their mother is facing criminal charges for leaving them unattended. Authorities say 21-year-old Ciarria Johnson left her children alone in the home while she was having her hair styled. Investigators also determined that Johnson made no arrangements for the care of her children while she was gone. Johnson is charged with two counts of negligent homicide.

Researchers from the LSU Health Sciences Center are encouraged that a new drug derived from sea moss could be used to treat Alzheimer’s. Scott Carwile has the story…

cut 1 (31) “reporting”

LRN Newscast 07:30 January 14

Republican US Senator David Vitter says he’s raised four-million dollars for this year’s governor’s race. We still haven’t heard any fundraising totals from fellow republican, Lt Governor Jay Dardenne, but la-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says we know republican candidate Scott Angele and democat John Bel Edwards have eached raised at least a million and with the election still months away, a lot could happen…
cut 12 (07) “….very well change”

LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport researchers say a drug derived from sea moss could be used to treat Alzheimer’s Disease. Doctor Steven Alexander says they’ve seen positive effects with mice and the next step is to get F-D-A approval to begin clinical trials and they believe that could happen because it’s effective in pill form…
cut 5 (09) “….quite a long time”
State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson is seeking a 30-percent pay increase for many of his troopers. Michelle Southern has more…
cut 3 (31) “….reporting”

On the campus of U-L Lafayette, a new 40-million dollar student union opens today. Assistant director of building services, Garland “Chico” Rodriguez, says one of the things they are most excited about is the brand new dining hall…
cut 8 (12) “….and the service”
Rodriguez says the student union also has a new bookstore and several offices for student groups and organiziations.

LRN Sportscast 06:45 January 14

Kevin Steele is the new defensive coordinator at LSU. He comes from Alabama where he was the Crimson Tide’s linebackers coach. He’s also been a defensive coordinator at Clemson, a linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers and a former head coach at Baylor. Football analyst Mike Detillier gave his thoughts on the hire during last night’s Tiger Rag Radio show…
cut 16 (19) “…ass off”
It’s expected LSU will hold a press conference today to introduce Steele to the media.

Louisiana Tech has a new defensive coordinator as well. Several media outlets are reporting that head coach Skip Holtz has promoted safeties coach Blake Baker to replace Manny Diaz. Baker is considered a tireless worker, who has also been an assisstant at Arkansas State and he’s a former three-year start at Tulane.

Northwestern State Coach Mike McConathy was denied his 600th coaching win last night as the Demons lost to Abilene Christian 95-81. The Wildcats shot 58-percent from the field, 59-percent from three-point territory and 92-percent from the free throw line. Northwestern’s Jalan West had 30 points in a losing effort.

Nicholls State earned its first Southland win of the season last night as the Colonels rallied to beat Houston Baptist 61-57. Freshman Quinton Thomas led the way with 18 points off the bench. Houston Baptist did not hit a field goal in the final seven minutes of the game.

Tonight…LSU visits Ole Miss in a contest that gets underway at 6 PM at the Tad Smith Coliseum in Oxford. Jarell Martin leads the Tigers in scoring, averaging 17 points a game, but has yet to score in double figures in two sec games this year.

And in the NBA, the Pelicans continue their five-game road trip in Detroit tonight.

LRN Newscast 06:30 January 14

State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson is requesting a 30-percent pay increase for many of his troopers. Edmonson says the money would come from a special fund approved in last year’s legislative session which collects fines from drivers with expired auto insurance and puts them in an account that can be used for L-S-P salaries…
cut 13 (10) “….spend those dollars”
Edmonson will make the request when the joint legislative budget committee meets on Friday.

A researcher at the L-S-U Health Sciences Center in Shreveport hopes sea moss found below the surface of the Pacific Ocean could be used to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Doctor Steven Alexander and his team have tested a drug derived from sea moss and it has a positive effect on mice who suffer from human Alzheimer’s disease…
cut 4 (06) “…cognition”
Alexander says they are seeking FDA approval to begin clinical trials on humans.

Senator David Vitter announces he’s raised $4 million dollars for his bid to become the next governor of Louisiana. According to his campaign, almost 90-percent of the contributions are from in-state donors. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says that’s impressive, but not the whole story…
cut 10 (12) “…David Vitter’s campaign”

AM Newscall January 14th, 2015

Researchers from the LSU Health Sciences Center are encouraged with a new drug that’s derived from sea moss which could be used to treat Alzheimer’s. Scott Carwile has the story…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

Senator David Vitter announces he has raised $4 million dollars for his bid to become governor of Louisiana. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

State Police is requesting a 30% increase for many of its troopers. Michelle Southern reporting.

Cut 3 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

A researcher at the L-S-U Health Sciences Center in Shreveport hopes sea moss found below the surface of the Pacific Ocean could be used to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Doctor Steven Alexander and his team have tested a drug derived  from sea moss and it has a positive effect on mice who suffer from human Alzheimer’s disease

cut 4  (06)  “cognition”

Alexander says they are seeking FDA approval to begin clinical trials on humans and they believe that could happen because this drug, known as Byronstatin, (Bri-oh-stat-in) is effective in pill form…

Cut 5  (09)   “quite a long time”

Alexander says Byrostatin may not be able to cure a person who has Alzheimer’s, but he’s hopeful it could stop the memory loss…

Cut 6 (11)  “life quality”

______________________________________

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is excited about the opening of its brand new student union today. Garland “Chico” Rodriguez is the Assistant Director of building services for UL-Lafayette. He says the two year project now sees the bookstore, Cajun Card office, office of international affairs and much much more…:

CUT 7 (12)  “semester basis”

Rodriguez says the student government association and university program council will also be moving into the new building. He says one of the things they are most excited about is the brand new dining hall…:

Cut 8 (12)  “and the service” 

Rodriguez says there are multiple food stations in the new union and a large courtyard which overlooks the university’s Cypress Lakes. He says the $40 million dollar project was funded by student fees and anyone who’d like to take a look at it can log on to studentunion.louisiana.edu for all updates and hours of operation…:

Cut 9 (09)  “that’s available”

______________________________________

Senator David Vitter announces he’s raised $4 million dollars for his bid to become governor of Louisiana. According to his campaign, almost 90-percent of the contributions are from in-state donors. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says that’s impressive, but it’s not the whole story…

Cut 10 (12) “David Vitter’s campaign” 

Alford says the Vitter-friendly Super PAC, which will spend a lot money supporting Vitter’s gubernatorial bid, has raised another 3.9 million dollars. And he says Vitter is raising money through his Senate finance campaign account, which can’t be used directly on his gubernatorial campaign, but it can be donated to the Super PAC…

cut 11 (10) “it’s unprecedented”

He says Vitter is re-writing the book on campaign finance in Louisiana. Republican candidate Scott Angelle has reported raising $1.5 million and Democrat John Bel Edwards is reporting fundraising totals of $1 million. Alford reminds voters the election is still many months away and a lot could happen…

cut 12 (07)  “very well change”

______________________________________

State Police is requesting a 30% increase for many of its troopers. Col Mike Edmonson says the money is coming from a special fund approved in last year’s legislative session which collects fines from drivers with expired auto insurance and puts them in an account for LSP salaries. He says they were asked to find a mechanism that would fund a pay adjustment:

Cut 13 (10)  “spend those dollars”

Edmonson says he will make the request to spend the money in the account at the joint legislative budget committee on Friday when they will vote to approve it. Some have been critical of the timing of the increase as the state faces budget woes and the price of oil is so low, but Edmonson says this has been a long time coming…:

Cut 14 (10)  “they’ve done that”

If lawmakers approve the money shift, starting pay with benefits for troopers would go from about $35,600 a year to $46,600 a year. Edmonson expects this will be approved as he’s heard nothing negative from lawmakers on this matter…:(This will be the first raise for rank-and-file troopers since 2002.)

Cut 15  (10)  “decision”

______________________________________

LSU hires Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele as the next defensive coordinator for the Purple and Gold. Prior to coaching at Alabama, Steele served three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Clemson, helping Clemson win the A-C-C in 2011. He also served as the head football coach at Baylor from 1999-2002 compiling a record of 9-36 overall in the Big 12. Football analyst Mike Detillier…:

Cut 16  (19)  “ass off”  

Steele coached linebackers for the Carolina Panthers in the 1990s. Detillier says the defensive philosophy of Steele will be very different from former DC John Chavis…:

Cut 17 (18)  “a quarterback”

Coach Les Miles released a statement saying Steele has been very successful as a coach with a great defensive mind & an outstanding recruiter. The Mad Hatter says Steele knows the LSU players, the Tiger’s system and the SEC. Detillier says one of the areas LSU needs major improvement is with development of defensive lineman…:

Cut 18 (15) “defensive lineman’

 

 

LRN Newscast 17:30 January 13

Dr Frank Welch, medical director for the state’s immunization program, says nearly an estimated 400-thousand Louisiana residents have come down with the flu this season. He says they are still seeing an extraordinarily large number of cases reported each week, but:
CUT 7 (10) “anymore”
Welch says it’s still not too late to get your flu shot.

State Treasurer John Kennedy is getting the word out that they’ve collected through audits 31-million dollars in unclaimed property from life insurance companies. Kennedy says the money belongs to thousands of beneficiaries that never received their money….
cut 12 (11) “…keep the money’
To see if you’re owed money go to la-treasury-dot-com.

A 21-year-old mother has been charged with two counts of negligent homicide in the death of her three-year-old and four-year-old, who died in a house fire in Bastrop yesterday. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they’ve learned that 21-year-old Ciarria Johnson left her children unattended for hours as she was having her hair styled. Browning says investigators believe the young siblings never had a chance to get out…
cut 4 (12) “…require supervision”
Browning says they believe the fire started from a gas heater in the living room, they also suspect a space heater was in close proximity to flammable materials.

And LSU has confirmed reports that Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele is will be the next defensive coordinator at LSU. Prior to coaching at Alabama, Steele served three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Clemson, helping Clemson win the A-C-C in 2011. He’s also the former head coach at Baylor and coached linebackers for the Carolina Panthers in the 1990s.

LRN Sportscast 16:45 January 13

The final A-P football Top 25 poll came out today and LSU is no where to be found for the first time since 2008. It’s the second time in the Les Miles era that the Tigers did not finish the season ranked in the Top 25.

Meanwhile, Miles continues to search for a new defensive coordinator to replace John Chavis. The search is entering its third week, Charles Hanagriff, of 104-5 ESPN Baton rouge, says fans shouldn’t be concerned that LSU has yet to find a D-C…
cut 18 (15) “….every option”
Meanwhile, nola-dot-com reports LSU has stepped up its pursuit of Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, who maybe looking to run a defense, without Nick Saban’s involvement.

Several media outlets are reporting that Louisiana Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz will promote safeties coach Blake Baker to defensive coordinator. Baker was hired in February after coaching at Arkansas State and he’s a former three-year starter at Tulane in the early 2000s.

Northwestern State’s Mike McConathy has the chance to win the 600th game of his coaching career tonight when his Demons host Abilene Christian. McConathy says 600 wins are great, but he’s more worried about improving to 3-and-1 in the Southland. Tip-off tonight is at 6:30 at Prather Coliseum.

Nicholls State is also home tonight. The Colonels are searching for their first win in the Southland, and they’ll host Houston Baptist. Nicholls is 3-and-9 on the year, while the Huskies are six and seven.

Tomorrow night it’s LSU at Ole Miss. Both teams are 1-and-1 in league play. But the Rebels have owned this series of late, winning seven of their last eight.

ULM Athletic director, Doctor Brian Wickstrom, has been named one of the top-10 fundraising ADS in college atheltics by College A-D, which is a news and resource service for college athletic programs. According to a news release from ULM, Wickstorm has led Warhawk athletics to one of its most successful fundraising periods since arriving.

LRN Newscast 16:30 January 13, 2015

Nearly 400-thousand people here in Louisiana have dealt with the flu during this season…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

Senator David Vitter has announced he has 4 million dollars for his Louisiana gubernatorial campaign with 3.5 million dollars cash on hand. Vitter’s office says that 88 percent of campaign contributions are from over 25 hundred in-state donors. Vitter announced his candidacy last January.
================================
It’s a very sad story out of Bastrop, as two young children who authorities believe were left home alone, died in a house fire. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the blaze, which ignited Monday afternoon, was likely started by a gas space heater inside the wood-framed home…:
CUT 3 (10) “home alone”
The mother of the 4 year-old and 3 year-old, – 21 year-old Ciarra Johnson – reportedly was getting her hair done.

A Monroe stand-off this morning at an assistanted living complex has ended tragically, as the resident courtesy officer died after he was allegedly shot by a resident . Monroe Police Detective Reggie Brown says they got the call from the complex about shots fired from the apartment of 64 year-old Adam Spillman…
CUT 11 (10) Q: ‘is in question’
Seventy-six year-old Alton Sutter died at a local hospital.

LRN Newscast 15:30 January 13, 2015

Two young children from Bastrop, who authorities believe were left home alone, have died in a house fire. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says if they do find out that the mother left these young ones alone, negligent homicide charges could be coming for 21 year-old Ciarra Johnson…:
CUT 5 (10) Q: ‘we’re gonna do that”
Her dead children are idenitified as four year-old Tashae Johnson and 3-year-old Clifton Johnson.

Louisiana’s flu season is here, and officials say, it’s serious…
CUT 6 (11) Q: ‘as well’
That is Doctor Frank Welch, the medical director for the state’s immunization program, who adds an estimated 400-thousand people have come down with the flu statewide.
———————————
A stand-off at an assisted living complex in Monroe this morning has ended with one man dead. Monroe Police Detective Reggie Brown says a resident courtesy officer at Frances Towers reported shots fired from the apartment of 64-year-old Adam Spillman. That officer was shot in the leg…
CUT 10 (09) Q: ‘local area hospital’
Some witnesses said that Spillman may have had some mental issues.

Some state audits of life insurance companies have uncovered more than $31 million in unclaimed property for beneficiaries in the past eight years. State Treasurer John Kennedy says they found that some insurance companies violated their life insurance contracts. So, if you think you are owed money, just go to the website…
CUT 14 (08) Q: ‘at your leisure’