17:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry continues to urge storm victims who sustained damage from Tropical Storm Arthur to report that damage to the state by logging onto the website damage.la.gov. Landry says the information compiled here can help the state make the case for the area to be declared a federal disaster area, which could lead to federal assistance for storm victims.

Landry says they are also focusing on debris cleanup in Avoyelles Parish…

Cut 14 (08) “…as well”

The governor says they are also trying to provide housing for the hundreds of residents who have damaged homes as a result of flooding. Landry says they are trying to secure hotel rooms at the Paragon Casino in Marksville and also bringing in trailers.  An estimated 800 to 850 homes were flooded in Avoyelles Parish as nearly 30-inches of rain fell in about 12 hours on Thursday.

 

Shreveport golfer Sam Burns finished one stroke short at the U.S. Open after a nearly miraculous comeback, trailing by seven shots in the final round. After the tournament, Burns shared an emotional embrace with his father. A father of a two-year-old boy with another child on the way, Burns teared up as he reflected on what could have been.

Cut 5 (12) “…really special.”

Burns is still searching for his first major victory on the PGA Tour.

After nearly three years of construction, the I-20 rehabilitation project in Bossier and Caddo Parishes is complete. The 128-million-dollar investment is the largest in the corridor in many years and included a total rebuild of every lane and ramp at five interchanges. DOTD spokesperson Erin Buchanan says if you’ve ever driven in the area, you know how badly the rebuild was needed.

Cut 4 (08) “…time coming.”

The project provided major improvements to turning lanes, travel lanes, shoulders and access points.

4:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry and First Lady Sharon Landry were in Avoyelles Parish today to distribute food, bottled water and supplies to residents who have experienced flood damage to their homes. Landry says the First Lady’s Love One Foundation and Stine Lumber donated the supplies…

Cut 12 (10) “…clean it up.”

It’s estimated that 800 to 850 homes and businesses in Avoyelles Parish suffered flood damage as a result of the remnants from Tropical Storm Arthur.

Meanwhile during last week’s flood event, the Cajun Navy 2016 was conducting water rescues along the Biloxi River in Gulfport, Mississippi. Spokesperson Trey Williams says among those rescued a youth baseball team from Fort Worth, Texas…

Cut 10 (12) “…when we did”

 

Shreveport golfer Sam Burns finished just one stroke short of his first major championship at the U.S. Open yesterday. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Southeastern Louisiana graduate Shelby Bordelon has been crowned Miss Louisiana 2026. The Iberville Parish native says she plans to use her crown to promote impaired driving prevention. She lost a childhood friend to an impaired crash in 2024. On September sixth, Bordelon will compete in the Miss America pageant.

3:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry was back in Avoyelles Parish today to assist with the relief efforts from Thursday’s historic flooding. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Avoyelles Parish is not the only parish where Landry issued a state of emergency for. The declaration was issued for six parishes in total, with the others being Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany, and Terrebonne. The declaration activates the state’s emergency response and recovery program.

Volunteers with Cajun Navy 2016 are in Avoyelles Parish helping in the relief effort; but last week following Tropical Storm Arthur, they were offering a helping hand in the Gulfport, Mississippi, area. Trey Williams with Cajun Navy 2016 says they conducted several high water rescues.

Cut 9 (09)  “…World Series game.”

Cajun Navy volunteers also rescued a kayaker.

The American Red Cross is intensifying its relief efforts amid the tornadoes and historic flooding in Louisiana. Melissa Duplantier (doo-PLAH-shay) with the Red Cross says they’ve opened shelters in Mansura and Opelousas.

Cut 6 (11) “…meal as well.”

Duplantier says the shelters will stay open as long as needed.

2:30 LRN Newscast

An estimated 800 to 850 homes and businesses in Avoyelles Parish suffered flood damage during the downpours left by Tropical Storm Arthur. Governor Jeff Landry handed out supplies in the parish today and says officials are working to clean up the debris.

Cut 14 (08) “..as well.”

Residents who experienced flood damage are urged to report their losses to damage.la.gov.

The American Red Cross is also participating in the relief effort. Melissa Duplantier with the Red Cross says they’ve opened shelters in Mansura and Opelousas, and they’ll stay open as long as people need a place to go.

Cut 7 (11) “…as we’re needed.”

If you’d like to donate to the Red Cross, text “REDCROSS” – all one word – to 90999. You can also visit the Red Cross website or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Cajun Navy 2016 volunteers aided Gulfport and Biloxi residents this weekend during sever flooding caused by Tropical Storm Arthur. Cajun Navy 2016 Spokesman Trey Williams says the volunteer group rescued several people, including one kayaker.

Cut 11 (11) “…individual as well.”

The Cajun Navy 2016 volunteers have since left the Gulfport area and will be focusing their efforts this week on Avoyelles Parish.

Former LSU golfer Sam Burns was inches away from his first major title, finishing one stroke shy at the U.S. Open this weekend. At last year’s tournament, Burns held a one-shot lead at the start of the final day but dropped to seventh in the final round. Crawling back from a seven-stroke deficit, Burns says this year’s championship felt different.

Cut 4 (10) “…win today.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry was in Moreauville today to assist with the distribution of disaster relief supplies. Officials estimate between 800 to 850 homes were flooded in Avoyelles Parish during Thursday’s historic rain event. Landry says finding temporary shelter is a main priority…

Cut 13 (16) “…casino campground”

Meanwhile during last week’s flood event, the Cajun Navy 2016 was conducting water rescues along the Biloxi River in Gulfport, Mississippi. Spokesperson Trey Williams says among those rescued a youth baseball team from Fort Worth, Texas…

Cut 10 (12) “…when we did”

 

Shreveport golfer Sam Burns finished just one stroke short of his first major championship at the U.S. Open yesterday. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Richard Fontenot has been re-elected to serve a third term as president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau. Fontenot is a fourth-generation rice, soybean and crawfish farmer from Ville Platte.

Also construction has been completed on the 128-million dollar I-20 rehabilitation project in Bossier and Caddo Parishes. The project has improved turning lanes, travel lanes, shoulders and access points along a heavily traveled portion of I-20.

12:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry and First Lady Sharon Landry were in Avoyelles Parish today to distribute food, bottled water and supplies to residents who have experienced flood damage to their homes. Landry says the First Lady’s Love One Foundation and Stine Lumber donated the supplies…

Cut 12 (10) “…clean it up.”

The American Red Cross is increasing its efforts to provide relief to the historic flooding in Louisiana. Melissa Duplantier with the Red Cross says even those who have places to go, like friends’ or relatives’ homes, the Red Cross wants to hear from them.

Cut 8 (06) “…any additional assistance.”

The Red Cross could always use volunteers or donations. If you’d like to donate, the easiest way to do so is to text “REDCROSS” – one word – to 90999. You can also go to the Red Cross’ website, or you can call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Shreveport golfer Sam Burns finished one stroke short at the U.S. Open after a nearly miraculous comeback, trailing by seven shots in the final round. After the tournament, Burns shared an emotional embrace with his father. A father of a two-year-old boy with another child on the way, Burns teared up as he reflected on what could have been.

Cut 5 (12) “…really special.”

Iberville Parish native Shelby Bordelon was crowned Miss Louisiana 2026 in Monroe Saturday night. A graduate student at Southeastern Louisiana, Bordelon took home a 15-thousand-dollar scholarship and will advance to the 2027 Miss America Competition in late August.

Parkway three-star wide receiver Gary Burney Jr. flipped his commitment from Houston to LSU after visiting campus this weekend. 247Sports ranks Burney as the number 75 receiver in the country and 21st prospect in Louisiana.

11:30 LRN Newscast

The American Red Cross is intensifying its relief efforts amid the tornadoes and historic flooding in Louisiana. Melissa Duplantier (doo-PLAH-shay) with the Red Cross says they’ve opened shelters in Mansura and Opelousas.

Cut 6 (11) “…meal as well.”

Duplantier says the shelters will stay open as long as needed.

Early voting is over, so voters have one more chance this Saturday to head to the polls to make their voices heard in the U.S. Senate runoffs. The race getting the most attention has been on the Republican side, with Julia Letlow and John Fleming battling it out for the nomination. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says President Trump’s endorsement of Letlow could play an outsized role.

Cut 23 (11) “…of Donald Trump.”

His rally came up just short. Former LSU golfer and Shreveport native Sam Burns came back from seven strokes down in the final round of the U.S. Open and nearly caught winner Wyndham Clark, finishing just one stroke behind. Burns says this year’s championship had a different feeling.

Cut 4 (10) “…win today.”

The win would have been Burns’ first major title.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be inducted in Natchitoches this weekend. Hall President and CEO Ronnie Rantz says there will be events celebrating the inductees all weekend. He says his favorite day is Friday, kicked off by the Celebrity Bowling Bash at the Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria.

Cut 13 (10)  “…the whole family.”

10:30 LRN Newscast

Early voting is over, so this Saturday is the last chance for you to make your voice heard in the U.S. Senate runoffs. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

The statewide price for a gallon of regular gasoline continues to fall. It’s down to $3.52 a gallon according to Triple-A. That’s 12-cents cheaper than a month ago, and 53-cents cheaper than at this time last month. But gas prices were about 70-cents cheaper than a year ago.

 

The Associated General Contractors of America is calling on Congress to approve a new federal transportation funding bill. The vice president of that group, Brian Turmail, says EV drivers are getting a free ride, and they should be paying their fair share towards the funding used to maintain roads and bridges.

Cut 12 (10) “…a gas car.”

Gasoline taxes provide most of the funding for the federal transportation bill.

This Saturday is the Induction ceremonies for the 2026 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class. Headlining this year’s class are former LSU Tigers Warren Morris, Todd MccLure and Sylvia Fowles. Saints wide receiver Joe Horn and LSU basketball coach John Brady are also in the 12-person class. Friday evening is the Rockin’ River Fest with live music on the Natchitoches riverfront.

Cut 14 (09) “…bring the family.”

That’s Ronnie Rantz, chairman of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry and first Lady Sharon Landry will distribute food and supplies to those affected by Tropical Storm Arthur today. They will be at the Moreauville Volunteer Fire Department at 11 AM. Some areas of Avoyelles Parish received more than 30 inches of rain, flooding more than 100 homes. The governor says many of these flood victims do not have flood insurance…

Cut 6 (10) “..can’t afford it”

Less than a week to go until the Senate Republican Primary on Saturday. The Julia Letlow and John Fleming campaigns have mostly stuck to their messages, but LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says Fleming might have erred when he shared an AI political attack ad of Letlow…

Cut 9 (14) “…the Fleming campaign”

Some prominent Republicans called the ad unethical.

Former LSU golfer and Shreveport native Sam Burns came up one stroke shy at the U.S. Open yesterday. Burns entered the final round trailing the leader Wyndham Clark by seven shots. He finished his day three under while Clark shot three over, but Burns says he knew it would have taken something special.

Cut 3 (12) “…cap to him.”

The 2026 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies are on Saturday night and it will be televised on L-P-B. President of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame foundation, Ronnie Rantz, says there will also be Hall of Fame events that day in Natchitoches…

Cut 15 (09) “…Cane’s lunch”

Former LSU Tigers Slyvia Fowles, Todd McClure, Warren Morris, and John Brady, along with former Saints standout receiver Joe Horn highlight this year’s class.

8:30 AM LRN Newscast

Early voting has ended and voters have their final chance this Saturday to sound off in the runoffs for U.S Senate. The race getting the most attention has been on the Republican side.  In the primary, Julia Letlow finished 15 points ahead of John Fleming, and a poll showing Letlow ahead by that margin since advancing to the runoff appeared to indicate that she was pulling away. But a recent poll commissioned by the Letlow campaign actually showed her trailing Fleming. Hogan says that’s proof that this is anyone’s contest.

Cut 8 (08) “…their minds yet.”

Governor Landry took an aerial tour of the flooding in Avoyelles Parish Friday afternoon, and what he saw was shocking. Avoyelles is one of six parishes included in Landry’s disaster declaration. Landry said those affected can help speed up the process by documenting their damage at damage.la.gov.

Cut 5 (11) “…up the chain.”

————————–

The American Red Cross has announced intensified disaster relief operations in central and southeastern Louisiana amid all the devastation.  With over 30 inches of rain in some areas of Avoyelles Parish and nine confirmed tornadoes in Louisiana and Mississippi from Post-Tropical Cyclone Arthur storms , the Red Cross said its disaster teams are working around-the-clock to provide shelter, meals and support to hundreds of families.

The 2026 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is this coming Saturday; and Hall President Ronnie Rantz says fans can stay busy all weekend. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”