5:30 LRN Newscast

Dozens of athletes received a fifth season of eligibility in a Baton Rouge court Thursday night, and Governor Landry told Fox Business that he thinks the SEC is unfairly targeting LSU in the legal battle. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

This comes as LSU gets set to take on Clemson, which has reportedly notified LSU via email that playing former pros may breach the contract between the two schools.

Not everyone is welcoming Hyundai Steel to Ascension Parish with open arms. Ann Rolfes (RAWL-fis), the director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, says by putting up the plant, Louisiana is prioritizing a company from the other side of the world over local companies.

Cut 9 (11)  “…our own home.”

The plant had its ceremonial groundbreaking Friday afternoon. The plant is slated to open in 2029.

This is a Labor Day Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over weekend. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has made extra funds available to help local law enforcement agencies arrest drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. State Police Superintendent Colonel Frank Besson says last year, alcohol or drugs contributed to 34-percent of the state’s fatal crashes.

Cut 12 (09) “…right decisions.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

It’s almost time for LSU to kick off its season against Clemson. It will be Lane Kiffin’s first game leading the Tigers roster loaded with transfer talent. Quarterback Sam Leavitt will also play his first game in Tiger Stadium, and Kiffin says the number-one-rated transfer has lived up to the billing.

Cut 21 (14) “…been great.”

Kickoff is at 6:30 tomorrow.

Southern coach Marshall Faulk will also be making his first appearance in front of the home crowd when the Jaguars host Kentucky State. The first-year head coach says he doesn’t feel any added pressure to win at home.

Cut 22 (10) “…to do it.”

Grambling plays its second home game against Central State. Both games kick off at 6:00 tomorrow night

College football around the state is fully underway tomorrow.

Louisiana Tech opens the season at home against Northwestern State at 6:30. Demons head coach Blain McCorkle says he hopes his team can bounce back from a disappointing opener against Louisiana Christian in another regional rivalry game.

Cut 20 (13) “…game of it.”

UL Lafayette kicks off the season against Lamar at 7. Lamar opened its season with a 21-14 win over Abilene Christian last week. Cajuns head coach Michael Desormeaux says a strong offensive start is important against a veteran team that likes to run the ball.

Cut 19 (10) “…you want.”

ULM and Tulane both kick off the year with difficult road matchups. The Warhawks visit Mississippi State at 6:30, and the Green Wave faces Duke at 2:30.

At 6:00, Southeastern Louisiana visits South Alabama, Nicholls heads to Kansas State and McNeese hosts Texas Wesleyan.

4:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry believes the SEC is unfairly targeting LSU in the legal battle over athletes seeking a fifth year of college eligibility. In an interview with Fox Business, Landry questioned why the SEC is not taking action against other schools, including Texas, which has offensive lineman Cole Hutson on its roster after he participated in two NFL rookie minicamps.

Cut 3 (10) “…LSU.”

All this comes as college football’s top-rated pregame show, “ESPN College GameDay” gets set to kick off its 40th season live from the LSU Campus. It also happens to be its 500th show on the road. Saturday night’s season opening matchup against Clemson is one of the most anticipated games in Tiger Stadium in several years, and LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette is expecting a big crowd for the show.

Cut 7 (03) “…to be like.”

Not everyone is happy with the arrival of the Hyundai Steel plant in Ascension Parish in 2029. Among other things, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade is concerned about the environmental impact, even though the company plans on reducing carbon emissions by 70-percent by using electricity instead of burning coal to produce the steel. Director Anne Rolfes says Hyundai is not being honest in its air permit application.

Cut 11 (10) “…from New Orleans.”

It’s Labor Day weekend, and that means another Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over weekend. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman reminds you that driving while impaired is a crime.

Cut 14 (09) “…that simple.”

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has made extra funds available to help local law enforcement agencies arrest drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

3:30 LRN Newscast

A Baton Rouge judge has granted a fifth-year of college eligibility to a group of athletes that graduated high school in 2022 and missed out on getting a fifth year of college eligibility despite the NCAA’s new rules that gives college athletes a fifth year. Tight end Dae’Quan Wright is one of the plaintiffs. Wright was cut by two NFL teams earlier this summer and after his release from the Cleveland Browns he committed to LSU. Wright says he’s relieved to receive a fifth year of college eligibility.

Cut 5 (09) “…appreciate that”

It remains to be seen if Wright will play tomorrow night’s season opener against Clemson. Coach Lane Kiffin says the most important thing is always winning, but show time is a real thing. He says it’s important to create a product people want to see.

Cut 18 (14) “…into the stadium.”

 

 

Not everyone is rolling out the welcome mat for the five-billion-dollar Hyundai Steel mill in Ascension Parish, which held a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony this afternoon. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

This is the first big weekend of football in the Bayou State. Great high school games tonight and not only do you have LSU-Clemson in Death Valley, but there’s also Louisiana Tech hosting Northwestern State and the Ragin Cajuns hosts Lamar.

LRN PM Newscall September 4

Dozens of athletes received a fifth season of eligibility in a Baton Rouge court Thursday night, and Governor Jeff Landry told Fox Business that he thinks the SEC is unfairly targeting LSU in the legal battle. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

____________________________________________

Not everyone is rolling out the welcome mat for Hyundai Steel in Ascension Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Governor Jeff Landry believes the SEC is unfairly targeting LSU in the legal battle over athletes seeking a fifth year of college eligibility. In an interview with Fox Business, Landry questioned why the SEC is not taking action against other schools, including Texas, which has offensive lineman Cole Hutson on its roster after he participated in two NFL rookie minicamps.

Cut 3 (10) “…LSU.”

The SEC has sued LSU in an effort to prevent the university from rostering players who spent time with NFL teams during training camp.

Landry also takes issue with national media reports referring to the athletes as former pros or ex-NFL players. He says the controversy could have been avoided if the NCAA had granted the high school class of 2022 athletes a blanket waiver for a fifth season of eligibility when the association implemented its new five-for-five rule.

Cut 4 (14) “…changed the rule”

Tight end Dae’Quan Wright is one of the plaintiffs in the Louisiana college eligibility case. Wright was cut by two NFL teams earlier this summer and after he his release from the Cleveland Browns he committed to LSU. Wright says he’s relieved to receive a fifth year of college eligibility.

Cut 5 (09) “…appreciate that”

Wright says he expects to play Saturday against Clemson. Former Alabama and LSU head coach Nick Saban said on the ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show that if he was LSU, he’d be very careful how to proceed here, because it’s possible a federal or state court could rule these players ineligible and there maybe consequences relative to that.

___________________________________________

College football’s top-rated pregame show, “ESPN College GameDay” will kick off its 40th season Saturday morning as it will broadcast live from the LSU Campus its 500th show on the road. LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says it’s the 15th time ESPN College GameDay has hosted its show at LSU.

Cut 6 (12) “…of the classrooms.”

Saturday night’s season opening matchup against Clemson is one of the most anticipated games in Tiger Stadium in several years. Bonnette is expecting a big crowd for the show.

Cut 7 (03) “…to be like.”

Pat McAfee’s kicking contest returns for its fourth season. Two-time country music entertainer of the year and Franklin Parish native Lainey Wilson is the celebrity guest picker and she’s expected to also perform during the show. Bonnette expects College GameDay will go all out for its 500th show.

Cut 8 (08) “…on Saturday morning.”

The show begins at eight a-m; if you decide to go, we strongly suggest you arrive well before then.

___________________________________________

Not everyone is happy with the arrival of the Hyundai Steel plant in Ascension Parish in 2029. Ann Rolfes (RAWL-fis), the director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, says by putting up the plant, the state is prioritizing a company from the other side of the world over local companies.

Cut 9 (11)  “…our own home.”

Rolfes says the state is going out of its way to tend to Hyundai’s needs while neglecting the needs of the people of the state.

Cut 10 (12) “…rest of Louisiana?”

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade is also concerned about the environmental impact the steel plant will have, even though the company plans on reducing carbon emissions by 70-percent by using electricity instead of burning coal to produce the steel. Rolfes says Hyundai is not being honest in its air permit application.

Cut 11 (10) “…from New Orleans.”

___________________________________________

This is a Labor Day Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over weekend. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has made extra funds available to help local law enforcement agencies identify, stop and arrest drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Louisiana State Police Superintendent Colonel Frank Besson says last year alcohol or drugs contributed to 34-percent of the state’s fatal crashes.

Cut 12 (09) “…right decisions.”

Besson says when he was a young Trooper, he investigated a fatal drunk driving crash that claimed the life of a six-year-old boy. He says it didn’t have to happen if the driver made the decision not to drink and drive.

Cut 13 (09) “…lifeless body.”

Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman reminds motorists this weekend that impaired driving is a crime.

Cut 14 (09) “…that simple.”

 

2:30 LRN Newscast

Dozens of athletes received a fifth season of eligibility in a Baton Rouge court last night, and Governor Jeff Landry told Fox Business that he thinks the SEC is unfairly targeting LSU in the legal battle. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

This comes on the eve of LSU’s highly-anticipated matchup against Clemson, which has reportedly notified LSU via email that playing former pros may breach the contract between the two schools.

As Hyundai Steel gets set to hold its ceremonial groundbreaking for its 5.8-billion-dollar plant in Ascension Parish that’s slated to open in 2029, not everyone is ready to roll out the welcome mat. Ann Rolfes (RAWL-fis), the director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, says the state is going out of its way to tend to Hyundai’s needs while neglecting the needs of the people of the state.

Cut 10 (12) “…rest of Louisiana?” 

It’s Labor Day weekend, and that means it’s another Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over weekend. State Police Superintendent Colonel Frank Besson says when he was a young trooper, he investigated a fatal drunk driving crash that claimed the life of a six-year-old boy. He says it didn’t have to happen if the driver made the decision not to drink and drive.

Cut 13 (09) “…lifeless body.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry believes the SEC is unfairly targeting LSU in the legal battle over athletes seeking a fifth year of college eligibility. In an interview with Fox Business, Landry questioned why the SEC is not taking action against other schools, including Texas, which has offensive lineman Cole Hutson on its roster after he participated in two NFL rookie minicamps…

Cut 3 (10) “…LSU.”

The SEC has sued LSU in an effort to prevent the university from rostering players who spent time with NFL teams during training camp.

ESPN’s “College GameDay” is visiting LSU for its 500th road broadcast when the Tigers host Clemson tomorrow. LSU’s campus is already buzzing ahead of game day. The show starts at 8 and will feature Pat McAfee’s kicking contest and Franklin Parish native Lainey Wilson as the guest picker. LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette expects a spectacle.

Cut 8 (08) “…on Saturday morning.”

Hyundai Steel is celebrating a ceremonial groundbreaking for its 5.8-billion-dollar plant near Donaldsonville this afternoon. Stephanie Malin with Hyundai Steel says there are several reasons why the company chose to build in Ascension Parish.

Cut 30 (12) “…in the community.”

This is a Labor Day Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over weekend. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has made extra funds available to help local law enforcement agencies identify, stop and arrest drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Louisiana State Police Superintendent Colonel Frank Besson says last year alcohol or drugs contributed to 34-percent of the state’s fatal crashes…

Cut 12 (09) “…right decisions.”

12:30 LRN Newscast

A Baton Rouge judge has ruled in favor of a group of former college athletes seeking a fifth year of eligibility after they were originally told they had exhausted their eligibility.  LSU is receiving criticism for accepting players into their program that were once on NFL training camp rosters, but Governor Jeff Landry told Fox News Business it’s unfair criticism.

Cut  4 (14) “…changed the rule”

College football’s top-rated pregame show, “ESPN College Gameday” will kickoff its 40th season tomorrow morning as it will broadcast live from the LSU Campus. It’s 500th show on the road. LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says it’s the 15th time ESPN CollegeGameday has hosted its show at LSU…

Cut 6 (12) “…of the classrooms.”

 

A ceremonial groundbreaking takes place this afternoon for the five-point-eight billion dollar Hyundai Steel plant near Donaldsonville. Some in the community are concerned about whether emissions levels would meet current EPA standards. But Stephanie Malin with Hyundai Steel says the company is taking innovative steps to greatly reduce emissions.

Cut 16 (10) “…by 70-percent.”

Ann Rolfes (RAWL-fis), the director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, says by putting up the plant, the state is prioritizing a South Korean company over local companies…

Cut 9 (11)  “…our own home.”

The 5.8-billion-dollar plant is expected to open in 2029.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

A group of high school class of 2022 athletes in the Louisiana lawsuit against the NCAA, SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey was granted a preliminary injunction for a fifth season of eligibility. That includes players like Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who had brief stints in NFL training camps and now plan to play for LSU. Attorney Ryan Downton, who represented the athletes, says the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility rules grant athletes five seasons of eligibility.

Cut 10 (08) “…fifth year.”

The SEC plans to appeal the ruling and filed a separate lawsuit against LSU in a federal court in Alabama. The conference claims LSU’s recruitment of NFL players violates its First Amendment right to enforce its own rules. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says he believes the SEC does not have the law on their side.

Cut 8 (10) “…could be repercussions.”

The start of the Lane Kiffin era at LSU is almost here. The Tigers host Clemson tomorrow in a game that will be the center of the football universe. “College GameDay” is on campus and nearly 100 recruits will be in attendance. Kiffin says the Tigers are ready to put on a show.

Cut 18 (14) “…into the stadium.”

UL Lafayette kicks off the season against Lamar tomorrow. The Ragin’ Cajuns are kicking off their 125th season and were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt West this year. Desormeaux expects a lot of excitement for the season opener.

Cut 20 (14) “…past nine months.”

11:30 LRN Newscast

Baton Rouge Judge William Jorden sides with 44 athletes, including LSU commits Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, in granting a fifth season of eligibility. Despite the ruling, concerns remain that the school could face later punishments if the SEC wins an impending appeal of the injunction or a separate federal lawsuit against LSU. As such, one of the plaintiff’s attorneys, Tony Clayton, says this is far from over.

Cut 13 (09)  “…ask for.”

Today is the day construction will officially get underway on the Hyundai Steel plant near Donaldsonville. Stephanie Malin with Hyundai Steel says by moving sheetmetal manufacturing to the U.S., it will bolster national security and the U.S. supply chain.

Cut 15 (09) “…in the U.S.”

The 5.8-billion-dollar plant is expected to open in 2029.

A report from the Pelican Institute for Public Policy finds that Louisiana’s economy grew faster than the national rate during the first quarter of this year. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Last week’s SpaceX announcement is already starting to have a ripple effect. Carencro-based Coastal Machine and Supply has announced that it’s investing more than 25-million dollars to expand its operations in Lafayette Parish. The company is a precision contract manufacturer which specializes in defense, space and oil and gas programs.