5:30 LRN Newscast

The former murder capital of America is shedding that dubious distinction. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says murders in the city have dropped by more than 50-percent in the last two years, from 265 in 2022 to 124 last year. She says the same downward trend is true for all other forms of crime in the city.

Cut 11 (18) “…of 27-percent.”

Crawfish prices continue to decline this Mardi Gras season. The average price for live crawfish is now $4.10 per pound, while boiled crawfish costs $6.49 per pound. According to Laney King, the co-founder of The Crawfish App, this week saw a big price dip.

Cut 3 (05) “…drop in price.” 

A 60-year-old Bayou Blue man is accused of sexually assaulting several girls. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says Herman Dupre (DOO-pree) is accused of assaulting at least four girls, ranging in age between seven and 16, over the course of several years.

Cut 8 (11) “…and simple battery.”

Dupre is being held on 525-thousand dollars bond.

The Saints have reportedly named Brandon Staley defensive coordinator. Staley was the head coach of the Chargers from 2021 to 2023. NFL analyst Mike Detillier with W-W-L Radio says even though Staley is only 42 years old, his head coaching experience should help the 36-year-old head coach Kellen Moore.

Cut 14 (11) “…have it.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

New Saints head coach Kellen Moore has reportedly hired former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley as his defensive coordinator. Staley was a head coach for three seasons and brought the Chargers to the playoffs one time. NFL analyst Mike Detillier of WWL radio says having a former head coach on Moore’s staff will be a good resource for the first time head coach…

Cut 14 (11) “…have it”

Staley was an assistant head coach in San Francisco last season and in 2020 he was the defensive coordinator for the Rams and L-A that season had one of the best defenses in the NFL. He also had a couple of future Hall of Famers on that defense in Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.

The Pelicans return to the court tonight after the All-Star break. As they are in Dallas. New Orleans is in last place in the West with a 13 and 42 record.

 

LSU baseball is facing Omaha this weekend in a three game series. Through four games, LSU played 20 different position players and Coach Jay Johnson says his guys are mature about sharing playing time…

Cut 19 (19) “…good”

Because of rain in the forecast on Sunday, LSU will play a doubleheader on Saturday. So will the Ragin Cajuns who are hosting  23rd ranked Nebraska.

In college basketball…LSU hosts 2nd ranked Florida at 5 PM. It’s the beginning of a tough stretch of games to conclude the regular season for the Tigers.

McNeese can clinch a share of the Southland Regular season championship on Saturday when the Cowboys host Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi. Tip time is at 4.

4:30 LRN Newscast

Crawfish is becoming more affordable as Mardi Gras approaches. The average price for live crawfish is currently $4.10 a pound, with boiled crawfish averaging $6.49 a pound. Laney King, the co-founder of the Crawfish App, says crawfish prices are on track to be under three dollars a pound during the heart of the season….

Cut 5 (09) “…normal crawfish season.”

At this time last year, live crawfish were averaging $7.49 a pound.

A Bayou Blue man is accused of sex crimes, including first-degree rape, against at least four girls. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says 60-year-old Herman Dupre (DOO-pree) has been doing this for quite some time.

Cut 7 (11) “…of these incidents.”

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the city is becoming safer.

Cut 9 (08)  “…26-percent reduction”

Murders have especially seen a huge drop. Two years ago, New Orleans saw 265 murders. That number dropped to 192 in 2023 and 124 last year.

The Saints have reportedly hired former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley as their new defensive coordinator. Staley was the head coach for the Chargers for three seasons, leading L-A to one playoff appearance. NFL analyst Mike Detillier with W-W-L Radio says it was that one playoff game that proved to be the start of Staley’s downfall in L-A.

Cut 13 (13)  “…the game.”

LRN PM Newscall

As Mardi Gras season ramps up, crawfish prices are going down and expected to keep falling.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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A Bayou Blue man is accused of sexually assaulting several girls. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Crawfish prices continue to decline as Mardi Gras approaches. Co-founder of the Crawfish App, Laney King, says the average price for live crawfish is now $4.10 per pound, while boiled crawfish costs $6.49 per pound. ..

Cut 3 (05) “…drop in price.” 

King says there was not a decrease in prices at the crawfish docks, but more retailers are opening their doors in anticipation of the Lenten season, which is increasing the supply of mudbugs….

Cut 4 (04) “…down this week.”

King says at this time last year, live crawfish were averaging $7.49 a pound, which is almost double to what we are paying this year. She says crawfish prices are are on track to be under three-dollars a pound during the heart of the season….

Cut 5 (09) “…normal crawfish season.”

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A Bayou Blue man is accused of sex crimes, including first-degree rape, against several girls. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says they started investigating a single complaint by the Department of Children and Family Services against 60-year-old Herman Dupre (DOO-pree), and they found several additional victims.

Cut 6 (08) “…reported by DCFS.”

Captain Matherne says these assaults had been going on for quite some time.

Cut 7 (11) “…of these incidents.”

Matherne says Dupre is in the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, and his bond is set at 525-thousand dollars.

Cut 8 (11) “…and simple battery.”

Matherne says investigators believe there are additional victims. Anyone who may have come into contact with Dupre should contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

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New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the city is becoming safer.

Cut 9 (08)  “…26-percent reduction”

During a news conference at police headquarters, Kirkpatrick said all forms of crime are down, including violent crime.

Cut 10 (08) “…decrease in murders.”

In 2022, when New Orleans was known as the murder capital of America, there were 265 murders. In 2023, that number dropped to 192; and last year, it dropped even further to 124. Kirkpatrick said the same downward trend is true for all other forms of crime.

Cut 11 (18) “…of 27-percent.”

Also in the last year, Kirkpatrick said auto theft dropped 50-percent.

___________________________________________________________

The Saints have reportedly hired former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley as the team’s defensive coordinator. Before he was the head coach of the Chargers, Staley was the defensive coordinator for the Rams in 2020 and NFL analyst Mike Detillier with W-W-L Radio says the Rams had one of the best defensives in the NFL that season…

Cut 12 (11) “…build around.”

Detillier says Staley was the head coach for the Chargers for three seasons from 2021 to 2023, leading L-A to one playoff appearance….

Cut 13 (13)  “…the game.”

Last season Staley was an assistant head coach for the 49ers. Detillier says Staley is only 42-years-old, but has head coaching experience and that should help first-time head coach Kellen Moore, who is just 36-years-old…

Cut 14 (11) “…have it.”

3:30 LRN Newscast

In 2022, New Orleans was known as the murder capital as the city reported 265 murders. The NOPD investigated fewer homicides in 2023 and Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the number of murders went down again in 2024…

Cut 10 (08) “…in murders”

In 2024 there were 124 murders in New Orleans.

A Bayou Blue man is accused of sex crimes, including first-degree rape, against several girls. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says they started investigating a single complaint by the Department of Children and Family Services against 60-year-old Herman Dupre (DOO-pree), and they found several additional victims.

Cut 6 (08) “…reported by DCFS.”

Captain Matherne says these assaults had been going on for quite some time.

As Mardi Gras season ramps up, crawfish prices are going down and expected to keep falling.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Congressman Clay Higgins have asked President Trump to slap tariffs as high as 100-percent on rice imports from India, Thailand, China, Pakistan and Vietnam. In a letter to the President, the two Republicans from Louisiana says the rice industry contributes 34-billion dollars to the U-S economy, but it’s being displaced by heavily subsidized imported rice.

2:30 LRN Newscast

A 60-year-old Bayou Blue man is accused of sexually assaulting several girls. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says Herman Dupre (DOO-pree) is accused of assaulting at least four girls, ranging in age between seven and 16, over the course of several years.

Cut 8 (11) “…and simple battery.”

Dupre is in the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, and his bond is set at 525-thousand dollars.

As Mardi Gras approaches, crawfish prices are on the way down. The average price for live crawfish is now $4.10 per pound, while boiled crawfish costs $6.49 per pound. Laney King, the co-founder of The Crawfish App, says more crawfish are moving around, making them easier to catch and increasing supply for retailers.

Cut 4 (12) “…down this week.”

The former murder capital of America is shedding that dubious distinction. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says murders in the city have dropped by more than 50-percent in the last two years, from 265 in 2022 to 124 last year. She says the same downward trend is true for all other forms of crime in the city.

Cut 11 (18) “…of 27-percent.”

Those of you traveling on I-49 approaching Alexandria, a heads-up – the freeway is closed in both directions due to a tanker truck that spilled oil onto the roadway. In all, a 14-mile stretch is closed between exits 80 and 94 – U.S. 71 and Rapides Station Road. You can use U.S. 71 to get around the closure for the time being.

1:30 LRN Newscast

A Bayou Blue man is accused of sexually assaulting several girls. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

In 2022, New Orleans was known as the murder capital as the city reported 265 murders. The NOPD investigated fewer homicides in 2023 and Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the number of murders went down again in 2024…

Cut 10 (08) “…in murders”

In 2024 there were 124 murders in New Orleans.

The Saints have reportedly hired Brandon Staley as the team’s defensive coordinator. Kellen Moore was an assistant under Staley when Brandon was the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Staley was the defensive coordinator for the Rams in 2020 and NFL analyst Mike Detillier with W-W-L Radio says the Rams had one of the best defensives in the NFL that season…

Cut 12 (11) “…build around”

Staley was the head coach for the Chargers for three seasons from 2021 to 2023, leading L-A to one playoff appearance. He was fired right before the end of the 2023 season and was an assistant-head coach for the 49ers last season.

The 2024 Louisiana Child Care Parent Poll found that over half of parents worry about affording childcare, with costs averaging 633 dollars a month per child.  Mattilyn Batson at the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children says for those without subsidies, expenses rise to nearly 12 hundred dollars monthly.

Cut 14 (08) “…dollars a year.”

Baston they released this poll in hopes lawmakers will provide more funding to help families pay for childcare.

12:30 LRN Newscast

A Bayou Blue man is accused of sex crimes, including first-degree rape, against at least four girls. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says 60-year-old Herman Dupre (DOO-pree) has been doing this for quite some time.

Cut 7 (11) “…of these incidents.”

Matherne says Dupre is in the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, and his bond is set at 525-thousand dollars. He says investigators believe there are additional victims.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the city is becoming safer.

Cut 9 (08)  “…26-percent reduction”

During a news conference at police headquarters, Kirkpatrick said year-over-year, murders were down 35-percent, non-fatal shootings are down 44-percent and carjackings are down 49-percent.

As Mardi Gras ramps up, crawfish prices go down and are expected to keep falling. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

King said current crawfish prices are largely in line with what they usually are this time of year.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The seventh ranked LSU women’s basketball team rebounded from a tough loss at Texas with a 79 to 63 win over Georgia last night. Jersey Wolfenbarger got more minutes last night as All-American Aneesah Morrow sat out with a minor foot injury. And Wolfenbarger scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. She talked about bouncing back from the loss to Texas…

Cut 20 (09) “…in a lot of ways”

LSU visits 14th ranked Kentucky on Sunday.

The Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball team rallied back from 17 points in the second half to beat Troy 72 to 69. Kentrell Garnett made the winning basket, a fadeaway three with 20 seconds left.

Sean Newman Junior scored 23 points as Louisiana Tech went on the road and beat Middle Tennessee 85 to 74 to even its Conference USA record at 7-and-7. The Bulldogs are at Western Kentucky tomorrow night.

The New Orleans Pelicans return from the All-Star by playing the Mavericks in Dallas.

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LSU is 4-and-0 as it opens a series against Omaha at Alex Box Stadium today. The Tigers showed off their depth in their four victories, playing a bunch of guys, and Coach Jay Johnson says it’s been fun to watch…

Cut 18 (17)  “…this team.”

Louisiana Tech is also 4-and-0 heading into a weekend series at Southern Miss. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs came into the season liking his starting pitching, but the bullpen will be a work in progress…

Cut 17 (17) “…on em”

And the Ragin Cajuns will be hosting 23rd ranked Nebraska this weekend.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Crawfish prices continue to decline this Mardi Gras season. The average price for live crawfish is now $4.10 per pound, while boiled crawfish costs $6.49 per pound. According to Laney King, the co-founder of The Crawfish App, this week saw a big price dip..

Cut 3 (05) “…drop in price.” 

A Bayou Blue man is accused of sex crimes, including first-degree rape, against several girls. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says they started investigating a single complaint by the Department of Children and Family Services against 60-year-old Herman Dupre (DOO-pree), and they found several additional victims.

Cut 6 (08) “…reported by DCFS.”

Dupre is in the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, and his bond is set at 525-thousand dollars. If anyone has come into contact with Dupre, contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The 2024 Louisiana Child Care Parent Poll shows parents are struggling with cost and availability to child care. Mattilyn Batson, the director of policy and research at the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, highlights the struggles parents face balancing work with childcare access and affordability.

Cut 13 (11)  “…not work at all.”

Could NHL hockey be coming to New Orleans? NHL Network analyst – and former NHL goalie – Kevin Weekes says a potential New Orleans ownership group had a productive meeting with Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly this week. Weekes says while the identity of this ownership group is currently unknown, they are hockey people from top to bottom.

Cut 10 (09) “…hockey fans themselves.”

New Orleans joins a long list of cities pursuing NHL expansion teams.