08:30 Newscast November 25, 2014

Louisiana continues to set records when it comes to the number of people who are working in the state. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

A Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty in federal court of trying to entice a Lake Charles child to engage in sexual activity. Evidence shows that 40-year-old Timothy Kelly sent explicit images of himself to her, asked her to have sex with him, and talked of traveling to Louisiana for that purpose. Kelly faces 10 years to life in prison.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards took part in a 6th Congressional District race debate yesterday where his opponent, Garret Graves, did not show up. During the course of events, Edwards was asked if he thought Senator Mary Landrieu was affecting his campaign. The former governor joked that it’s The President hurting them both…

cut 9 (14) “in this district”

The election is December 6th, early voting is underway.

A study by LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center shows as the rate of diabetes continues to rise, the disease is costing Louisiana’s five-billion dollars a year. Pennington Executive Director, Dr. William Cefalu, says diabetes is becoming an economic burden for the entire country…

cut 5 (05) “this condition”

He says increased awareness and action to stem the disease is needed to cut down the cost.

07:30 Newscast November 25, 2014

A lawsuit filed this week by West Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter seeks to extend the early voting period for the December 6th runoff because of the two days lost this time due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. Hunter says he hopes a judge will add those two extra days back…

cut 14 (12) “Friday and Monday”

But Secretary of State Tom Schedler says this is not the first time that polls have been closed during the early voting period when state offices are closed…

cut 16 (11) “challenged in court”

Hunter says this election, with the US-Senate race at the top of the ballot, is too important to shorten the amount of time someone is given the opportunity to vote.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards took several shots at his 6th Congressional District opponent in a debate where Garret Graves did not show up. While Graves was head of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Edwards says Graves’ father was awarded $130 million dollars in state contracts and he bought coastal restoration office space then made his brother-in-law the leasing agent…

cut 8 (13) “all that time”

Edwards also accuses Graves of playing dirty politics.

As the rate of diabetes continues to rise, new numbers show the disease costs Louisiana five-billion dollars a year. The study was conducted by LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the facility’s executive director, Dr. William Cefalu, says the cost of pre- and undiagnosed diabetes grew as much as 82-percent since 2007…

cut 4 (06) “number of cases”

Nationally, the cost of diabetes has grown to $322 billion per year.

06:45 Sportscast November 25, 2014

The Baltimore Ravens gave the Saints their third consecutive home loss last night as they defeated the Black & Gold 34-20 in Monday Night Football action. Ravens running back Justin Forsett rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns as the Ravens improve to 7-4 on the season. Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw for 420 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in a losing effort. The Saints drop to 4-7 on the season, but are still tied for first in the NFC South. This is the first time the Saints dropped three consecutive games at home since 2001.

LSU heads into Thursday night’s regular season finale against Texas A-and-M struggling on offense. So will true freshman quarterback Brandon Harris get some snaps against the Aggies. When asked. Coach Les Miles gave a non-committal answer…

cut 19 (14) “he’s improved”

LSU has won the two previous meetings against Texas A-and-M, since the Aggies joined the Southeastern Conference.

Louisiana Tech can win the West Division of Conference USA this Saturday. But the defending league champions stand in the Bulldogs way. The Rice Owls won ten games last year and were crowned the C-USA champs. This season Rice can win the West from Tech by beating the Bulldogs in Ruston this weekend. La Tech head coach Skip Holtz calls Rice a solid team

cut 17 (17) “been winning”

Last season, the Rice Owls embarrassed Louisiana Tech, beating them in Houston 52-14.

It was a tough night on the hardwood for Louisiana college basketball teams. LSU fell to Clemson 64-61, Milwaukee upended UL-Lafayette 56-52, Tennessee Tech defeated Southeastern Louisiana 81-62, and Ball State crushed Grambling 88-46.

06:30 Newscast November 25, 2014

Former Governor Edwin Edwards took several shots at his opponent in the 6th Congressional District race in a debate where Garret Graves did not show up. Edwards accuses Graves of playing dirty politics in a flyer he sent out before the November 4th election that may lead voters to believe Paul Deitzel is gay…

cut 7 (10) “really do hurt”

Edwards is also accusing Graves of helping his family profit from Government contracts when he was the head of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

The state continues to set new employment records. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink says total nonfarm employment in Louisiana reached 1,988,900 in October, which is a new record high…

cut 10 (09) “in Louisiana”

Eysink says the number of private employment jobs has grown by 31-thousand over the last year.

A West Monroe lawmaker filed a lawsuit this week seeking to extend the early voting period for the December 6th runoff because two days were lost this time due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. Governor Bobby Jindal declared this Friday a state holiday, Acadian Day, and polls are closed. Representative Marcus Hunter says he hopes the court knows the will of the legislature when it comes to voting…

cut 13 (05) “to vote”

Hunter says it’s the responsibility of Secretary of State Tom Schedler to make sure voter turnout in Louisiana is as high as it can possibly be. But Schedler says the law is the law…

cut 15 (09) “filed the suit”

Hunter says he hopes his case will be heard either today or tomorrow before the judges take off for Thanksgiving.

*CORRECTION* AM Newscall November 25, 2014

As the rate of diabetes continues to rise, new numbers show the costs associated with the disease are climbing at an alarming rate. Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

______________________________________

Louisiana continues to set records when it comes to the number of people who are working in the state. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

A West Monroe lawmaker filed a lawsuit this week seeking to extend the early voting period for the December 6th runoff because two days were lost this time due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 3 (25) “reporting”

______________________________________

As the rate of diabetes continues to rise, new numbers show the disease costs Louisiana’s five-billion dollars a year. The study was conducted by LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the facility’s executive director, Dr. William Cefalu, says the cost of prediabetes went up 74-percent and undiagnosed diabetes grew 82-percent since 2007…

Cut 4  (06)  “number of cases”

Nationally, the cost of diabetes has grown to $322 billion per year in excess medical costs and lost productivity. Cefalu says diabetes is becoming an economic burden for the entire country…

Cut 5  (05)  “this condition”

Cefalu says increased awareness and action to stem the disease is needed to cut down the cost. He says previous studies show that prediabetes can be controlled…

Cut 6 (09)  “to diabetes”

______________________________________

Former Governor Edwin Edwards took several shots at his opponent in the 6th Congressional District race in a debate where Garret Graves did not show up. Edwards accuses Graves of playing dirty politics in a flyer he sent out prior to the November 4th election that may lead voters to believe Paul Deitzel is gay…:

CUT 7 (10)  “really do hurt”

Edwards is also accusing Graves of helping his family profit from Government contracts when he was the head of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Under that leadership, Edwards says Graves’ father was awarded $130 million dollars in state contracts and he bought coastal restoration office space then made his brother-in-law the leasing agent:

Cut 8 (13)    “all that time” 

Edwards was asked if he thought Senator Mary Landrieu was affecting his campaign. The former governor joked that it’s The President hurting them both…:

Cut 9 (14)  “in this district”

______________________________________

The state continues to set new employment records. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink says total nonfarm employment in Louisiana reached 1,988,900 in October, which is a new record high

Cut 10 (09) “in Louisiana” 

Eysink says the number of private employment jobs has grown by 31-thousand over the last year. he says two industry sectors have set employment records

cut 11 (10)  “very strong”

The state’s unemployment rate is also going up, along with the number of people who are employed. The unemployment rate for October was six-point-two percent, up four-percentage points from last year. Eysink says it’s an indicator people are responding to the state’s strong job growth

cut 12 (08)  “we have”

______________________________________

A West Monroe lawmaker filed a lawsuit this week seeking to extend the early voting period for the December 6th runoff because two days were lost this time due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. Governor Bobby Jindal declared this Friday a state holiday, Acadian Day, and polls are closed. Representative Marcus Hunter says he hopes the court knows the will of the legislature when it comes to voting…:

Cut 13 (05)  “to vote”

Hunter says this election, with the US-Senate race at the top of the ballot, is too important to shorten the amount of time someone is given the opportunity to vote. He says he hopes a judge will add those two extra days back…:

Cut 14 (12)  “Friday and Monday”

Hunter says it’s the responsibility of Secretary of State Tom Schedler to make sure voter turnout in Louisiana is as high as it can possibly be. But Schedler says the law is the law…:

Cut 15  (09)  “filed the suit”

Hunter says he hopes his case will be heard either today or tomorrow before the judges take off for Thanksgiving. Schedler says this is not the first time that polls have been closed during the early voting period when state offices are closed…:

Cut 16  (11)  “challenged in court”

____________________________________

Louisiana Tech can win the West Division of Conference USA this Saturday. But the defending league champions stand in the Bulldogs way. The Rice Owls won ten games last year and were crowned the C-USA champs. This season Rice can win the West from Tech by beating the Bulldogs in Ruston this weekend. La Tech head coach Skip Holtz calls Rice a solid team

Cut 17  (17)   “been winning”

Last season, the Rice Owls embarrassed Louisiana Tech, beating them in Houston 52-14. Holtz says his players remember that game and had a feeling that this year’s contest would decide a division championship

Cut 18 (14) “west division”

LSU heads into Thursday night’s regular season finale against Texas A-and-M struggling on offense. So will true freshman quarterback Brandon Harris get some snaps against the Aggies. When asked. Coach Les Miles gave a non-committal answer

Cut 19 (14)   “he’s improved”

LSU has won the two previous meetings against Texas A-and-M, since the Aggies joined the Southeastern Conference. In both contests, the Tigers defense slowed down an A-and-M offense led by Johnny Manziel. Miles says the Aggies offense hasn’t changed much since “Johnny Football” departed…

Cut 20 (17)  “throw the football”

17:30 Newscast November 24th, 2014

Early voting for the December 6th runoff election continues across the state. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Hardman Family who lost five in a crash in Ouachita Parish while on their way to their dream Disney World vacation last week. According to the site, the money, now reaching almost $30,000, will be used for the five funeral expenses. Trudi and Michael Hardman died in a crash along with three juveniles age 15, 7 and 4.

The famous Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights is officially underway. The 300,000+ lights were turned on for the first time on Saturday and will twinkle every night at dusk through January 6th of next year. Madi Ackel is this year’s Miss Merry Christmas. She says Natchitoches is always special, but this is the highlight of the year…:
CUT 9 (10) “special here”
You can get more information on the festival online at christmasfestival.com.

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame totaling $11 million. This is the largest individual contribution in the Hall’s 51 year history. Vice President of Communications Pete Fierle (FEAR-ly) says Hall President David Baker approached Benson earlier this season…:
CUT 6 (07) “very very quickly”
$10 million of Benson’s donation will be used to renovate Fawcett Stadium, which will now be called Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

LRN Sportscast 16:45 November 24

A win tonight and the Saints will be back in first place in the NFC south, despite a 5-and-6 record. Baltimore also needs to win badly to keep pace in a highly compeitive AFC North. Expect the Ravens to give the ball to running back Justin Forsett. He’s rushed for 721 yards and he’s averaigng 5.4 yards per carry. Kick-off from the Mercedes Benz Superdome is at 7:30 PM.

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame totaling $11 million. Eric Gill has more…
CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

The Pelicans announce shooting guard Eric Gordon is out indefinitely after an M-R-I showed that he tore the labrum in his shoulder during Saturday’s win over Utah. Gordon is averaging 9.5 points a game and had missed 115 games during his first three seasons in New Orleans because of injuries.

LSU football Coach Les Miles said today that sophomore Ethan Pocic will start at center on Thursday when the Tigers take on Texas A-and-M. Pocic has been the starter at right guard for most of the season. Evan Washington will start at right guard.

Louisiana Tech is back at practice, after suffering an overtime loss to Old Dominion. The Bulldogs can still win the West Division of the Conference USA if they beat Rice this Saturday. Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz says they can’t let last weekend’s loss linger…
cut 19 (09) “…this week”

LRN Newscast 16:30 11-24-14

Early voting for the December 6th runoff election continues across the state, and will run through this Saturday, excluding Thursday and Friday. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says voter turnout for the kickoff this past Saturday was brisk, and when compared to early voting for the primary…
cut 12 (10) “almost 45,000″
He expects the voter tunrout to be around 35 percent.

State Police are investigating a single vehicle accident involving an alleged drunk driver in the Hammond area last night that claimed the life of the driver’s father. Forty-five-year-old Douglas Hoyt of Holden was not restrained and was later pronoucned dead. As for the driver, 22 year-old Amber Hoyt,…
CUT 4 (08) Q: “vehicular homicide”
That’s Master Trooper Greg Marchand.

—————————————-

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame totaling $11 million. Here’s Eric Gill with more…
CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

A report from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, homelessness in Louisiana has declined nearly 12 percent since last year and roughly 63 percent since 2010. Louisiana Housing Corporation Executive Director Fred Tombar says one of the key factors has been the $146 million dollar Permanent Supportive Housing Program in the state.

LRN Newscast 15:30 11-24-14

Saturday was the early voting kick-off for the December 6th runoff election, and Secretary of State Tom Schedler says nearly 45 thousand voters cast their ballots. That’s a pretty big number, but Schedler says he’s not surprised…
CUT 13 (06) Q: “was very nice”
Early voting continues through this Saturday, except Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

A Tangipahoa Parish single vehicle crash involving an alleged drunk driver last night has taken the life of the of the driver’s father. 22 year-old Amber Hoyt has been charged with DWI, careless operation and vehicular homicide. Forty-five year-old Douglas Hoyt of Holden – who was not restrained -died at the scene…
CUT 5 (08) Q: ‘into tragedy”
That’s State Police master Trooper Greg Marchand.

—————————–

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame with 10 million dollars in renovations for the football stadium. The Hall’s Vice-President of Communications Pete Fierle (FEAR-lee) says Benson also is giving one million dollars to help construct a “Legends Landing.”
CUT 7 (11) “to literally land”
By the way, Benson’s Saints are on Monday night football tonight taking on the Baltimore Ravens.

As of Saturday, the lights are up and lit on the Cane River for the Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights…
CUT 11 (06) Q: “as possible here”
That’s Miss Merry Christmas Madi Ackel, who says the lights will twinkle every night through January the 6th. You can get more info at christmasfestival.com.

LRN Newscast 14:30 11-24-14

Early voting for the December 6th runoff election continues across the state. Eric Gill reports…
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

It looks like your Thanksgiving meal on Thursday will cost a little more this year, according to an informal survey by the American Farm Bureau Association. The average price for a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost $49.41; thirty-seven cents more than last year. But, that’s cheaper than it was in 2012.

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

State Police are investigating a single vehicle accident involving an alleged drunk driver in Tangipahoa Parish that claimed the life of the driver’s father. Master Trooper Greg Marchand says they call the call about the crash in the Hammond area last night…
CUT 3 (12) “a pine tree”
Twenty-two year-old Amber Holden was charged with DWI and vehicular homicide. Forty-five year-old Douglas Hoyt was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Natchitoches Christmas Fesitval of Lights is now underway, with thousands of lights were turned on Saturday, and they’re expecting big crowds over Thanksgiving weekend…
CUT 10 (08) Q: “at the lake”
That’s Madi Ackel, this year’s Miss Merry Christmas who also says the 88th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Parade is December 6th.