LRN AM Newscall September 10

Louisiana shrimpers are asking the federal government for help. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The SEC is no longer slated to discuss or vote on expelling LSU from the conference during a meeting of university presidents and chancellors today. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Sophomore quarterback Tyler Shough was one of nine Saints team captains named ahead of the team’s season opener at Detroit this weekend. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

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The Department of Health awards more than two-million dollars to U-L Lafayette as part of its initiative to improve health care in rural areas. Almost 1.6-million dollars of that money will go to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The dean of that college, Dr. Lisa Broussard, says the goal is to prepare student nurses to become practitioners in rural areas.

Cut 4 (10) “…that they need.”

Dr. Broussard says the grant will allow the school to admit additional students.

Cut 5 (05) “…the workforce demands.”

Broussard says with an increase in enrollment comes the need for additional personnel and equipment.

Cut 6 (08) “…and equipment, simulators.”

In addition, almost a half-million dollars will go to the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence. That money will help university researchers build an AI-based geographic information system, which will help health care officials in rural clinics to compile large amounts of data to indicate which services are needed and where those services are needed most.

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We’re about three weeks into shrimping season, and many Louisiana shrimp boats remain docked. Acy Cooper, the president of the Louisiana Shrimp Association, says it’s a sign of troubled times for the industry.

Cut 7 (07) “…to make it.”

Cooper says imported shrimp is especially killing the domestic shrimping industry, saying not only are imported shrimp prices badly undercutting prices of wild-caught shrimp, but diners are not getting a good product. He says the U.S.’ testing of shrimp imports is very lax; and as a result, American diners are getting everything that the rest of the world is rejecting.

Cut 8 (07) “…than one-percent.”

So Cooper is asking the federal government for help. He says President Trump’s tariffs on shrimp imports are having a very limited effect, so he’s now asking for limits on shrimp imports.

Cut 9 (08)  “…pounds every year.”

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Tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of the nine-eleven terrorist attacks, one of the darkest days in American history. Louisiana’s governor at the time was the late Mike Foster, who was in Lexington, Kentucky, that day for the Southern Governor’s Association Conference. His press secretary, Marsanne Golsby, says they were eating breakfast when the attack began.

Cut 10 (11) “…something like that.”

Golsby says once it became clear that this was a terrorist attack, the hotel emptied out quickly over concerns it could also be targeted because it was filled with elected officials from multiple states.

Cut 11 (11) “…be another target.”

Fifty-one minutes after the first plane slammed into the North Tower of the Twin Towers in New York City, an American Airlines flight crashed into the Pentagon in Washington D-C. Golsby says she will never forget the level of concern everyone had.

Cut 12 (07) “…scared to death.”

Because air traffic was shut down. State Police drove Governor Foster back to Louisiana, and he did not return to Baton Rouge until that night.

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The bitter legal fight between LSU and the SEC over the eligibility of two football players with recent NFL ties appears to be winding down, with LSU no longer facing the threat of expulsion from the conference. A vote on whether LSU should remain in the SEC is no longer on the agenda for today’s meeting of the league’s presidents and chancellors. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says the fact that SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey threatened to kick LSU out of the conference still doesn’t look good.

Cut 13 (11)  “…Greg Sankey is.”

The SEC filed a federal lawsuit last week seeking to prevent LSU from adding Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to its football roster. Both players were on NFL training camp rosters last month. In an amendment to its lawsuit, the SEC announced it would hold a Thursday meeting to consider whether LSU should remain in the conference.

But an initial hearing in the federal case was postponed yesterday, and the agenda for today’s SEC CEOs meeting no longer includes a vote on LSU’s membership. Guilbeau says it’s good to see the SEC back away from the threat.

Cut 14 (04) “…it’s time for.”

LSU backed down first, deciding not to add Wright or Harris to its roster before the season opener. Then  Tuesday night, the Tigers filled their final two roster spots with injured players who are not expected to play this season. That leaves no room for Wright or Harris, despite a Baton Rouge judge issuing a court order allowing both players to play for LSU.

Guilbeau says SEC leadership took the situation too far.

Cut 15 (05) “…really Greg Sankey.”

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UL Lafayette goes on the road to face 14th-ranked USC this weekend. The Trojans are 2-and-0 to start the season with blowout wins over San Jose State and Fresno State. Cajuns head coach Michael Desormeaux says USC has one of the toughest defensive lines he’s ever faced, but these are the kind of tests great teams pass.

Cut 16 (17) “…they do, period.”

UL kicked off the season with a 38-7 win over Lamar. Junior quarterback Lunch Winfield was 16-for-22 for 189 yards and two interceptions but added 84 yards and two scores on the ground. Desormeaux does not blame Winfield for the interceptions and was pleased with his 73-percent completion rate and smart decision-making.

Cut 17 (18) “…as the starter.”

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The Saints kick off the season at Detroit on Sunday. Running backs Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller returned to practice yesterday. Kamara was limited with an MCL sprain he suffered three weeks ago, but quarterback Tyler Shough says he’s as explosive as ever.

Cut 18 (12) “…feeding those guys.”

Shough took over the starting quarterback job last season and went 5-and-4 as the starter. He averaged 250 passing yards a game and threw 10 touchdowns as the starter. He says he’s excited to be back on the field after a long offseason.

Cut 19 (08) “…the fun part.”

Shough will look to take the next step leading the offense in his first full offseason as the starter. The Saints first-team did not play in the preseason, but he says he got plenty of work in.

Cut 20 (17) “…any negative plays.”

 

5:30 LRN Newscast

The bitter legal fight between LSU and the SEC over the eligibility of two football players with recent NFL ties appears to be winding down, with LSU no longer facing the threat of expulsion from the conference. A vote on whether LSU should remain in the SEC is no longer on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting of the league’s presidents and chancellors. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says the fact that SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey threatened to kick LSU out of the conference still doesn’t look good.

Cut 13 (12)  “…Greg Sankey.” 

This comes on the heels of today’s postponement of an initial hearing in federal court of the SEC’s lawsuit against LSU, which sought to prevent it from adding Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to the football roster. That essentially became moot when LSU filled the final two roster spots with injured players who are not expected to play this year.

There is a lot of purple and gold in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2027. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (40) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Classes at Northwestern State in Natchitoches will resume tomorrow. The campus was forced to close early today because of water issues in the city. But now, the school says water service has been restored to the campus.

4:30 LRN Newscast

A federal court hearing on the SEC’s lawsuit against LSU was postponed today after the Tigers football program submitted their final 105-man roster and it did not have Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris on it, which means they will not play for LSU this season. The SEC’s lawsuit claims that LSU head coach Lane Kiffin has led an effort to add players to his roster with NFL ties, which the league says is against the conference’s rules. An attorney for Wright and Harris, Tony Clayton, says both were acting on their own behalf and never met with Kiffin…

Cut 5 (09) “…and the SEC”

A vote on whether LSU should remain in the SEC is no longer on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting of the league’s presidents and chancellors.

This could be a record breaking hurricane season but in a good way.

Cut 28 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Former LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson is among the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2027.Peterson is one of the top cornerbacks to ever play at LSU. Hall of Fame Chairman Doug Ireland says Peterson also played 13 seasons in the NFL and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons.

Cut 10 (09) “…Hall of Fame.”

3:30 LRN Newscast

LSU President Wade Rousse has informed SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey that the Tigers have chosen not to add two players that were on NFL rosters last month, Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. Kace Kieshcnick reports it’s a sign that the feud between the SEC Commissioner and LSU is simmering down…

Cut 1 (34) “….I’m Kace Kieschnick”

The SEC filed a lawsuit against LSU last week. An initial hearing for that case was scheduled for today, but it has been postponed. It remains to be seen what happens tomorrow when SEC school presidents and chancellors meet via zoom to discuss LSU’s future with the league.

 

The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy is granted 30-million dollars from the federal government to plug and clean up orphaned oil and gas well sites in North Louisiana. Spokesman Patrick Courreges (KOO-rezh) says the Monroe and Shreveport areas contain more than 42-hundred of the state’s roughly 64-hundred orphaned wells.

Cut 8 (08) “…well heads behind.”

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2027 inductees today. Highlighting the class are former LSU stars Leonard Fournette, Patrick Peterson, Ryan Theriot and Aaron Hill. Chairman Doug Ireland says one of the state’s most successful high school football coaches, Hank Tierney, is also a member of the 2027 class.

Cut 11 (11) “…Archbishop Shaw.”

Tierney has won two state titles at Shaw.

LRN PM Newscall September 9

LSU finalized its football roster without former NFL signees Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, but that may not be the end of their saga. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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There is a lot of purple and gold in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2027. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (40) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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LSU filled its final two available roster spots last night, seemingly ending its recruitment of players who spent time in NFL training camps. The decision has de-escalated tensions between LSU and the SEC, and this afternoon’s hearing in the lawsuit has been postponed. Attorney Tony Clayton represents the athletes and says it was his clients who sued the NCAA and SEC, not LSU.

Cut 3 (11) “…and the law.”

SEC presidents and chancellors scheduled a vote on whether to expel LSU from the conference on Thursday. The lawsuit alleges that LSU’s coordinated effort to recruit players in NFL training camps violates the conference’s First Amendment right to govern itself, but Clayton says LSU never rostered the players and broke any SEC rules.

Cut 4 (09) “…is made of.”

The lawsuit claims that LSU coach Lane Kiffin was involved in coordinating and encouraging the athletes’ lawsuit against the NCAA, but Clayton says there is no evidence of that. He says his clients made their own decisions, and he has never even met Kiffin.

Cut 5 (09) “…and the SEC.”

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The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy is launching a massive effort to plug and clean up orphaned oil and gas well sites. Spokesman Patrick Courreges (KOO-rezh) says the department will use 30-million dollars in federal funding to clean up the sites in north Louisiana.

Cut 6 (07) “…per dollar spent.”

The department will use state funding to clean up orphaned well sites in south Louisiana. Courreges says it’s important to get these orphaned well sites plugged and cleaned so that they don’t cause any problems down the road.

Cut 7 (10) “…use of it.”

Courreges says the Monroe and Shreveport districts contain more than 42-hundred of the state’s roughly 64-hundred orphaned wells.

Cut 8 (08) “…well heads behind.”

Lafayette-based Lemoine Disaster Recovery and Houston-based Garner Environmental Services will lead the first phase. The overall effort will take three to five years to complete.

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Two of LSU’s best football players during this century, running back Leonard Fournette and cornerback Patrick Peterson, highlight the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2027.  Chairman Doug Ireland says Fournette earned All-American honors as a sophomore at LSU, rushing for nearly two-thousand yards, a school record.

Cut 9 (11)  “…Billy Cannon .”

Fournette also broke the school single-record for most games in a game when he had 284 yards on 16 carries in a 38-21 win over Ole Miss. Fournette went on to play seven seasons in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.

In 2010, Peterson won the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defender and the Thorpe Award as the top defensive back, becoming the first LSU player to win those two prestigious awards. Ireland says after LSU, Peterson played 13 seasons in the NFL and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons.

Cut 10 (09) “…Hall of Fame.” 

The 2027 class also features former LSU baseball stars Ryan Theriot and Aaron Hill. Ireland says one of the state’s most successful high school football coach, Hank Tierney, is also a member of the 2027 class.

Cut 11 (11) “…Archbishop Shaw.”

Tierney has won two state titles at Shaw.

The 2027 class also includes two-time Triple Crown winning jockey Robby Albarado, former Northwestern State baseball coach Jim Wells, former ULM women’s basketball star Lisa Ingram and former LSU defensive tackle standout Henry Thomas, who helped LSU win an SEC title in 1988 and then played 14 seasons in the NFL.

The induction ceremony will take place in Natchitoches from June 24th to the 26th.

2:30 LRN Newscast

This afternoon’s hearing in the SEC’s lawsuit against LSU has been postponed. This, after LSU filled its final two available football roster spots last night, seemingly ending its recruitment of two players who spent time in NFL training camps. Attorney Tony Clayton represents Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris and says it was them and not LSU who sued the NCAA and the SEC.

Cut 3 (11) “…and the law.”

The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy is launching a massive effort to plug and clean up orphaned oil and gas well sites. Spokesman Patrick Courreges (KOO-rezh) says the department will use 30-million dollars in federal funding to clean up the sites in north Louisiana.

Cut 6 (07) “…per dollar spent.”

The department will use state funding to clean up orphaned well sites in south Louisiana.

There’s a lot of purple and gold in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2027. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (40) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Water issues are plaguing the City of Natchitoches – so much so that they have forced Northwestern State to close early for the day. Students are being asked to monitor the school’s social media channels for information on possible reopening.

1:30 LRN Newscast

This afternoon’s hearing in the SEC’s lawsuit against LSU has been postponed. The hearing was to have taken place in Birmingham; no new date has been scheduled. SEC presidents and chancellors are scheduled to vote tomorrow on whether to kick LSU out of the conference.

LSU, meanwhile, finalized its football roster last night without former NFL signees Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy is granted 30-million dollars from the federal government to plug and clean up orphaned oil and gas well sites in North Louisiana. Spokesman Patrick Courreges (KOO-rezh) says the Monroe and Shreveport districts contain more than 42-hundred of the state’s roughly 64-hundred orphaned wells.

Cut 8 (08) “…well heads behind.”

The department will use state money to clean up orphaned well sites in South Louisiana.

Former LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson is among the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2027. In 2010, Peterson won the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defender and the Thorpe Award as the top defensive back, becoming the first LSU player to win those two prestigious awards. Chairman Doug Ireland says Peterson played 13 seasons in the NFL and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons.

Cut 10 (09) “…Hall of Fame.”

12:30 LRN Newscast

Even though LSU has finalized its roster without Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, the SEC is moving forward with its lawsuit against the school. The suit claims that coach Lane Kiffin was involved in coordinating and encouraging the athletes’ lawsuit against the NCAA, but Attorney Tony Clayton says his clients made their own decisions, and he has never even met Kiffin.

Cut 5 (09) “…and the SEC.”

SEC presidents and chancellors are also scheduled to vote tomorrow on whether to kick LSU out of the conference over its efforts to roster the former NFL training camp participants. It would take a two-thirds majority for that to happen, and Senator John Kennedy says in the unlikely event that that happens, the federal government will come down hard on the SEC.

Cut 15 (10) “…a ham sandwich.” 

The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy secures 30-million dollars to help with a massive effort to plug and clean up orphaned oil and gas well sites throughout North Louisiana. Spokesman Patrick Courreges (KOO-rezh) says it’s important to get these orphaned well sites plugged and cleaned so that they don’t cause any problems down the road.

Cut 7 (10) “…use of it.”

Two of LSU’s best football players during this century, running back Leonard Fournette and cornerback Patrick Peterson, highlight the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2027. Chairman Doug Ireland says Fournette earned All-American honors as a sophomore at LSU, rushing for nearly two-thousand yards, which is a school record.

Cut 9 (11)  “…Billy Cannon.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU added cornerback Aidan Anding and defensive end Gabriel Reliford to its roster, filling the final two spots the team had left to possibly add Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris later this season after they won a preliminary injunction to return last week. The move comes after the SEC sued LSU to prevent them from adding the players and announced a vote to expel the school from the conference tomorrow. Tony Clayton represents the athletes and says LSU never broke any rules.

Cut 4 (09) “…is made of.”

A hearing in the SEC’s lawsuit is set for 1:00 this afternoon in Birmingham.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2027 induction class featuring former LSU football stars Leonard Fournette, Patrick Peterson and Henry Thomas, Tigers baseball players Ryan Theriot and Aaron Hill, horse racing legend Robbie Albarado and ULM women’s basketball all-time leading scorer Lisa Ingram. The class will be enshrined June 26 in Natchitoches.

LSU wide receiver Winnie Watkins racked up 110 yards and a touchdown in his first game at LSU after transferring from Ole Miss this offseason. He says LSU has been everything it was advertised to be.

Cut 20 (19) “…everything they say.”

That crowd welcomes Louisiana Tech Saturday. Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie says there is a lot of good from their 80-6 win over Northwestern State to take with them to Baton Rouge against a tougher opponent.

Cut 16 (15) “…protect the football.”

11:30 LRN Newscast

There’s a hearing in Birmingham today regarding the SEC’s lawsuit against LSU. The league claims that there is a lack of institutional control at LSU over Lane Kiffin and his football program because Kiffin has allegedly been behind the effort to add players to LSU’s roster that were on NFL rosters during training camp. Attorney Tony Clayton asks where is the evidence???

Cut 4 (09) “…is made of”

LSU is not adding Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, the two players with NFL ties, to its roster, a sign that LSU is complying with SEC rules.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says 50 auto insurance companies have filed rate decreases and it’s resulted in a total savings for policyholders of 400-million dollars…

Cut 12 (12) “…to insurance companies”

 

New data shows that Louisiana has made significant progress in reducing opioid-related deaths and emergency department visits from 2022 to 2025. Louisiana Deputy Health Secretary Doctor Pete Croughan says this is fantastic news considering Louisiana was one of the nation’s leaders in opioid-related deaths in 2022

Cut 5 (29) “…get that decline”

The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy selects Lafayette-based Lemoine Disaster Recovery and Houston-based Garner Environmental Services to lead the first phase of a massive effort to plug and clean up orphaned oil and gas well sites. Spokesman Patrick Courreges (KOO-rezh) says the department will use 30-million dollars in federal funding to clean up the sites in north Louisiana

Cut 6 (07) “…per dollar spent.”

Courreges says it’s important to get these orphaned well sites plugged and cleaned so that they don’t cause any environmental problems down the road.