12:30 LRN Newscast

During the first two days of early voting voters turned out in droves. The secretary of state’s office says more than 170-thousand people showed up at the polls Friday and Saturday. John Couvillon (COO-vee-ahn) with JMC Analytics and Polling says normally, more Democrats turn out for early voting than Republicans, but that’s not the case this time around.

Cut 4 (15) “…2020 and 2024.”

LSP Class 105 started its accelerated 14-week POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) class, designed to prepare the 56 students for careers in law enforcement. This intensive program will equip them with essential skills and knowledge, including legal principles, investigative techniques, and physical training.  LSP Lt. Jared Sandifer says cadets in the accelerated program have POST training going into the academy.

Cut 9 (11)  “…exposed to some of that.”

LSP is currently taking applications for Class 107 starting in the summer of 2025.

Many are remembering Charles Baglio, a longtime LSU staffer and a Hall of Fame high school football coach, who died at the age of 81. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU is ranked Eighth in the latest A-P Top 25 poll as the Tigers are 6-and-1 following a blowout victory at Arkansas. Coach Brian Kelly says his team keeps improving…

Cut 18 (18) “…coming together”

The Tigers are at 14th ranked Texas A-and-M on Saturday. The Aggies have also won six in a row.

Longtime LSU football staffer Charles Baglio died on Friday night when he was struck by a car on U-S Highway 51 in Tangipahoa Parish. Baglio was just involved in a wreck himself and was checking on another vehicle when he was struck and killed. Baglio was also a successful high school football coach at Independence. Former Independence Coach Keith Carona says Baglio made high school sports fun…

Cut 6 (08) “….doing it”

Baglio was also on LSU’s staff for its three most recent national championships . He was 81.

The Ragin Cajuns are bowl eligible for a school-record seventh straight season after beating Coastal Carolina on Saturday. And they are tied for first place in the Sun Belt West with ULM. UL Coach Michael Desormeaux…

Cut 20 (20) “…our best.” 

The Cajuns are at Texas State on Saturday. ULM returns from a bye week as they’ll travel to play South Alabama in Mobile.

Southeastern Louisiana receiver Darius Lewis has been named Southland offensive player of the week as he caught the winning touchdown pass in the Lions heart stopping win over Stephen F Austin. Nicholls linebacker Jake Dalmado has been named the Southland Defensive player of the week as he had three sacks in the Colonels shutout win over Northwestern State.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Voters turned out in droves during the first two days of early voting. The secretary of state’s office says more than 170-thousand people showed up at the polls Friday and Saturday. John Couvillon (COO-vee-ahn) with JMC Analytics and Polling says the actual number is even higher. 

Cut 3 (11) “…to 259,512 statewide.”

Normally, more Democrats turn out for early voting than Republicans, but Couvillon says this time, it’s the other way around.

Oral arguments are taking place in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge at this hour over Louisiana’s controversial Ten Commandments law. Legal analyst Dane Ciolino says the state has almost no chance of winning this round.

Cut 9 (16)  “…establishment clause precedent.”

Some 150-thousand Swifties are set to invade New Orleans this week. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

LSU rolled past the Razorbacks on Saturday night beating Arkansas 34 to 10 in Fayetteville. The win sets up a huge game this Saturday against Texas A-and-M. LSU has won six in a row since the season-opening loss to USC and are now ranked number-seven in the nation.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Oral arguments are underway in a federal courthouse in Baton Rouge over the challenge to Louisiana’s controversial Ten Commandments law. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Early voting continues today for the November 5th presidential election. The Secretary of State’s Office reports there have been 171-thousand early in-person voters after two days of early voting. In 2020, there were 155-thousand early votes after two days.

The lone constitutional amendment on the November 5th ballot would dedicate any federal money Louisiana receives from offshore Alternative energy production to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund which funds coastal protection projects. CPRF is constitutionally protected and already receives dedicated OIL and GAS money from federal and state sources, and from the BP Oil Spill settlement. LaRose Representative Joseph Orgeron…

Cut 10 (12) “…energy infrastucture.”

Thousands will travel this week to New Orleans as Taylor Swift will be performing in the Superdome. New Orleans and Company spokesperson Kelly Schulz says this is a golden opportunity to showcase the city…

Cut 15 (09) “….throughout their lifetime”

Schulz says through her shows, Taylor Swift single-handedly boosts cities’ economies throughout the world.

LRN Newscast 9:30

Oral arguments will take place in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge this morning over Louisiana’s controversial Ten Commandments law.

Cut 7 (14) “…in public schools.”

That’s Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrell is defending the law on the state’s behalf and her legal team will make the case that the law is constitutional. The hearing is expected to last one or two days.

Two years from now, U-S Senator Bill Cassidy will likely be seeking re-election, but La Politics dot com publisher Jeremy Alford says he would not be surprised if Cassidy faces a challenger from his own party. Alford says State Treasurer John Fleming is one possibility…

Cut 6 (11) “…direct mail piece”

State Police is investigating two separate crashes in Avoyelles Parish that happened on the same highway on the same day. Both fatal wrecks occurred on Highway 107 on Saturday night. A two-vehicle crash near Center point claimed the life 62-year-old Harold Gaspard of Marksville and a one-vehicle crash near Pinks Lane claimed the life of 37-year-old Terrence Hawkins.

Some 150-thousand Swifties are set to invade New Orleans this week. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

LRN Newscast 8:30 October 21

Louisiana’s new law to have the Ten Commandments posted in every public-school classroom goes before a federal judge in Baton Rouge today. Dane Ciolino, a professor of law at the Loyola University-New Orleans says the plaintiffs, which includes the ACLU, have Supreme Court precedent on their side.

Cut 8 (14) “…in public schools.”

Ciolino says this case will likely go before the U-S Supreme Court and the current make-up of the nation’s highest court gives it a chance that the state’s Ten Commandments law could be ruled constitutional.

KALB-TV reports Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree submitted his resignation on Friday, which means the city council will appoint the next mayor, instead of voters with a special election.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy has 5.8 million in his campaign warchest sending a strong signal he will run for re-election in 2026.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Just one constitutional amendment on the November 5th ballot. A vote for the amendment would send federal dollars from money received from offshore wind, solar and other renewable energy sources to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund. LaRose Representative Joseph Orgeron explains why he authored the amendment to support the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund…

Cut 11 (09) “….in 20231”

Opponents of Amendment 1 say dedicating money from offshore energy production to the CPFR restricts lawmakers’ ability to make budget decisions.

7:30 LRN Newscast

Oral arguments will play out today in a federal courtroom over a new state law that’s being challenged by several groups that calls for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public classroom. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino expects Judge John deGravelles to rule in favor of the plantiffs, but the state’s strategy is the long game…

Cut 9 (16) “….establishment clause precedent”

Ciolino says the Supreme Court has shown a willingness to allow religion in public schools.

LSU is ranked Eighth in the latest A-P Top 25 poll as the Tigers are 6-and-1 following a blowout victory at Arkansas. Coach Brian Kelly says his team keeps improving…

Cut 28 (05) “…coming together”

The Tigers are at 14th ranked Texas A-and-M on Saturday. The Aggies have also won six in a row.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, who is up for re-election in 2026,  raised nearly $1.5 million in the third quarter of this year and has 5.8 million dollars in cash on hand. LA-Politics-dot-come Publisher Jeremy Alford…

Cut 4 (08) “…fundraising base come together.”

There was some speculation Cassidy might not seek a third term. He’ll be 69 when he runs for re-election and the Louisiana Republican Party censured Cassidy in 2021 for his vote to convict former President Donald Trump for his role in the January sixth attack on the U-S Capitol in 2020.

Swifties will invade New Orleans this week as Taylor Swift brings her Eras Tour to the Big Easy for three shows in the Superdome starting on Friday night. New Orleans and Company spokesperson Kelly Schulz….

Cut 14 (15) “….New Orleans way”

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU rolled past the Razorbacks on Saturday night beating Arkansas 34 to 10 in Fayetteville. The win sets up a huge game this Saturday against Texas A-and-M. The Tigers and Aggies are both undefeated in SEC play and Coach Brian Kelly’s team has to go back on the road again…
Cut 16 (16)   “…anymore.”
LSU is 3-0 in SEC play, 6-1 overall on the season and the Aggies share the same record as the Tigers. Both teams are tied for first place in the Southeastern Conference.
Southeastern Louisiana has the best record in the Southland Conference as the Lions improved to 3-and-0 in league play with a dramatic 24 to 23 win over Stephen F Austin. Eli Sawyer threw a game winning touchdown pass with two seconds left.
The Ragin Cajuns racked up a season-high 516 yards of total offense as U-L Lafayette defeated Coastal Carolina 34-24. Quarterback Ben Woolridge threw for a career-high 373 yards and accounted for four touchdowns in the big win on the road…
Cut 19 (17) “…score touchdowns.”
The Cajuns are bowl eligible for a school-record seventh straight season and they are tied for first place in the Sun Belt West with ULM.
Southern leads the SWAC Western Division after the Jaguars defeated Alcorn State 24 to 14. The Jags are at Florida A-and-M this Saturday, while Grambling is at Texas Southern after picking up its first SWAC win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff 31-21.

6:30 LRN Newscast October 21

The challenge to Louisiana’s controversial Ten Commandments law goes before the U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge this morning. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Early voting resumes today for the November 5th presidential election. The Secretary of State’s Office reports there have been 171-thousand early in-person voters after two days of early voting. In 2020, there were 155-thousand early votes after two days.

In 2026, Louisiana’s Senior Senator Bill Cassidy is expected to be on the ballot seeking a third term in office. LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Cassidy has reported five-point-eight million dollars in cash on hand…

Cut 5 (05) “…put up a tough fight”

Alford says there’s a possibility Cassidy will face a challenger from his own party. Two rumored names are PSC member Eric Skrmetta and State Treasurer John Fleming.

New Orleans is getting ready for the invasion of the Swifties. Taylor Swift will perform three shows at the Superdome Friday through Sunday. Kelly Schulz with New Orleans and Company says there are very few hotel rooms in the Big Easy this weekend.

Cut 13 (09)  “…going very quickly.”

LRN AM Newscall

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy has 5.8 million in his campaign warchest, along with an additional $1 million in his SuperPAC sending a strong signal he will run for re-election in 2026.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

_____________________________________________

The challenge to Louisiana’s controversial Ten Commandments law goes before the U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge this morning. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

_____________________________________________

Some 150-thousand Swifties are set to invade New Orleans this week. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

_____________________________________________

Ahead of the 2026 election cycle, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy raised nearly $1.5 million in the third quarter of this year and has 5.8 million dollars in cash on hand. Cassidy’s team says this is the most cash on hand for any incumbent Louisiana senator at this point in history.  LA-Politics-dot-come Publisher Jeremy Alford…

Cut 4 (08) “…fundraising base come together.”

There’s been speculation Cassidy may not seek a third-term. But Alford says Cassidy is sending a strong signal about his intentions…

Cut 5 (05) “…put up a tough fight.”

But Cassidy could face challengers from his own party, PSC Member Eric Skrmetta and State Treasurer John Fleming are rumored candidates. Both are arguably more conservative than Cassidy. Skrmetta has close connections with Donald Trump, and Alford noted Fleming was a Deputy Chief of Staff in the Trump administration.

Cut 6 (09) “…wait and see.”

__________________________________________________

Oral arguments will take place in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge this morning over Louisiana’s controversial Ten Commandments law. The law which requires all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments is on hold as it works its way through the courts.

Cut 7 (14) “…in public schools.”

Dane Ciolino (see-oh-LEEN-oh), a professor of law at the Loyola University-New Orleans College of Law, says the plaintiffs, which includes the ACLU, have Supreme Court precedent on their side.

Cut 8 (14) “…in public schools.”

While the state will argue that the law is constitutional, Ciolino says it has almost no chance of winning in the lower court.

Cut 9 (16)  “…establishment clause precedent.”

Ciolino says despite the Supreme Court precedent, the state actually has a good chance of winning in the Supreme Court, should the case get that far, since the current Supreme Court has shown a willingness to allow religion in public schools. But before it gets there, it would need to go to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

______________________________________________________

An Amendment to Louisiana’s Constitution on this November’s ballot would dedicate any federal money Louisiana receives from offshore Alternative energy production to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund which funds coastal protection projects. CPRF is constitutionally protected and already receives dedicated OIL and GAS money from federal and state sources, and from the BP Oil Spill settlement.  State Representative Joseph Orgeron…

Cut 10 (12) “…energy infrastucture.”

A vote against Amendment 1 would send any Federal money received from offshore wind, solar, or other alternative renewable energy sources to the state’s general fund. Orgeron says expiring funds need to be replaced because the CPRF does several projects that safeguard the coast, its people, and businesses.

Cut 11 (09) …in 2031.”

All of Louisiana’s share of federal money from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) is dedicated to CPRF. Louisiana’s lawmakers in Washington are currently working to improve GOMESA. Orgeron says dedicating those funds to coastal restoration helped push the original passage of GOMESA.

Cut 12 (11) “…all of the renewables.”

Opponents of Amendment 1 say dedicating money from offshore energy production to the CPFR restricts lawmakers’ ability to make budget decisions. Some believe federal money received should be shared across the whole state because north and central Louisiana have as many needs as the coastal region.

_______________________________________________

New Orleans is getting ready for the invasion of the Swifties. Travis Kelce’s girlfriend will be performing three shows at the Superdome Friday through Sunday. Kelly Schulz (shuhlz) with New Orleans and Company says with close to 150-thousand people descending on the Crescent City, hotel rooms are nearly gone.

Cut 13 (09)  “…going very quickly.”

And Schulz says the hospitality industry will be getting into full Taylor Swift fever.

Cut 14 (15) “…New Orleans way.”

Schulz says the Taylor Swift shows will provide a golden opportunity to showcase the city on a worldwide stage.

Cut 15 (09) “…throughout their lifetime.”

Schulz says through her shows, Taylor Swift single-handedly boosts cities’ economies throughout the world. If you’d like to see Taylor Swift in concert and don’t yet have a ticket, be prepared to fork over some serious dough. Tickets on the secondary market are going for a minimum of one-thousand dollars apiece, not including fees.

________________________________________________________

LSU rolled past the Razorbacks on Saturday night beating Arkansas 34 to 10 in Fayetteville. The win sets up a huge game this Saturday against Texas A-and-M. The Tigers and Aggies are both undefeated in SEC play and Coach Brian Kelly’s team has to go back on the road again…

Cut 16 (16)   “…anymore.”

LSU started fast in Fayetteville with a touchdown on its opening drive. When Arkansas got back into the game, Tigers linebacker Whit Weeks had a huge interception to set up a Caden Durham touchdown. LSU finished the scoring with 14-play, 80 yard drive late in the fourth quarter. Kelly says the Tigers played well from start to finish…

Cut 17 (17) “…this point.”

LSU has won six in a row since the season-opening loss to USC and Kelly’s team seems to be getting better every week…

Cut 18 (18)  “…coming together.

____________________________________________________________

The Ragin Cajuns racked up a season-high 516 yards of total offense as U-L Lafayette defeated Coastal Carolina 34-24. Quarterback Ben Woolridge threw for a career-high 373 yards and accounted for four touchdowns in the big win on the road…

Cut 19 (17) “…score touchdowns.”  

The Cajuns are bowl eligible for a school-record seventh straight season and they are tied for first place in the Sun Belt West with ULM. Coach Michael Desormeaux…

Cut 20 (20) “…our best.” 

The Cajuns are at Texas State on Saturday.