1:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry has sent President Trump a letter, formally requesting a major disaster declaration for nine parishes in northeast Louisiana following the winter storm, and the state’s entire congressional delegation is urging him to approve it. Senator Bill Cassidy says with such a declaration, FEMA can help those affected with some much-needed financial assistance.

Cut 6 (06) “…emergency hotel stays.”

It’s been a strong start to the year for Hollywood South, as there are six film productions either shooting or in preparation in the state. Jason Waggenspack, the president of Film Louisiana and the CEO of The Ranch Film Studios, says two of them are feature films.

Cut 9 (15)  “…Netflix.”

The Netflix produced movie is called “A Christmas Kind of Love.”

A months-long investigation into drug activity tied to Mexican cartels has resulted in 742 arrests statewide. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

State Representative Julie Emerson won’t be the next U.S. Senator from Louisiana, but she will be Governor Landry’s new chief of staff. Emerson takes over for Kyle Ruckert, and she begins her new role next week. A special election will need to be held to fill her seat in the legislature.

12:30 LRN Newscast

California and New York have ignored Louisiana’s extradition requests on doctors indicted for mailing abortion pills to people in Louisiana.  The dispensing of abortion pills is illegal in Louisiana when prescribed outside of a hospital setting, but shield laws in those states protect reproductive rights. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill argues these cases don’t fit that requirement as both women in question were forced to take the bills by someone else.

Cut 12 (11) “…what they’re doing.”

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is bringing a bill that would allow constitutional carry to college campuses in the upcoming legislative session.  Though similar bills have failed in the past, McCormick says he was encouraged by a group of college students to make a run at it again.

Cut 8 (09) “…bill this year.”

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Santa Clara is done, and Inglewood is now on the clock. Andrew Greenstein reports New Orleans is continuing its push to land the 2031 Super Bowl.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU Alexandria sets another enrollment record, with spring enrollment up 12-percent year-over-year, marking the 12th straight semester of record growth. Abbey Bain with LSU-A says one of the biggest reasons for the continued growth is smaller class sizes.

Cut 4 (08) “…and support them.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU men’s basketball team will look to upset 21st ranked Arkansas tonight. Two regular contributors are listed as doubtful for tonight for the Hogs, they are DJ Wagner and Karter Knox. Both players average around eight points a game.

In college hoops…McNeese won its 20th game as the Cowboys defeated HCU 73 to 69. Northwestern State won a tight game on the road, beating Lamar 70 to 68. Willie Williams offensive rebound and put back off a missed a free throw with four seconds left was the winning bucket.

Nicholls ran into a hot UTRGV team last night and lost to the Colonels 92 to 72 and Southeastern Louisiana defended its home court with a 74 to 62 win over UIW.

It’s officially game week for the LSU baseball team. The Tigers will open their season against Milwaukee on Friday at 2 p.m. Fifth-year senior infielder Seth Dardar is one of the new transfers LSU added in the offseason. Dardar, who’s a Mandeville native, says he was only in the portal for an hour before committing to the Tigers.

Cut 16 (13) “…to come home.” 

Ford Pemberton enters his first season as the ULM head baseball coach. The Warhawks finished last in the Sun Belt last season and are predicted to finish last this season, but Pemberton says he believes the future is bright in Monroe.

Cut 19 (11) “…trust our clubhouse.”

Bethune Cookman has been picked to win the SWAC this season. Grambling is projected to finish in fourth place and Southern is expected to finish in seventh.

11:30 LRN Newscast

A huge drug bust in Louisiana – 742 suspected gang members and drug dealers are arrested as part of an effort to crack down on drugs tied to Mexican cartels. Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood says drugs are constantly moving through central Louisiana because of I-49.

Cut 4 (14) “…like a hub.”

Non-felon adults being able to carry a gun without a permit became legal in Louisiana in 2024. For the upcoming session, Oil City Representative Danny McCormick has filed a bill that would allow teachers, students and the public to constitutional carry on college campuses.

Cut 7 (08) “…included in that.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill believes she would win a lawsuit against New York and California in her fight to extradite doctors who have been indicted for mailing abortion pills to people in Louisiana. The dispensing of abortion pills is illegal in Louisiana when prescribed outside of a hospital setting. Murrill says according to the Full Faith and Credit Clause in the U.S. Constitution, states must honor each other’s laws.

Cut 10 (12) “…in our state.”

LSU-Alexandria once again sets a new enrollment record, with overall spring enrollment up almost 12-percent year-over-year, with on-campus enrollment up more than 10-percent. Abbey Bain with LSU-A says the school is broadening its appeal beyond its traditional base.

Cut 6 (09) “…in the state.”

10:30 LRN Newscast

Authorities have announced the arrest of 742 suspected gang members and drug dealers across Louisiana as part of an effort to crack down on drugs that enter Louisiana that are tied to Mexican cartels. State Police Superintendent Robert Hodges says this announcement should serve as a strong message to those involved in gang activity or violent crime.

Cut 3 (06) “…bring you to justice” 

Nearly 500 of those arrests occurred in the Alexandria and Shreveport areas.

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is trying again with legislation that would allow teachers, students and the public to constitutional carry on college campuses. University officials have expressed concerns about allowing students to possess guns on campus. But McCormick says a student should have the ability to defend themselves in an active shooter situation.

Cut 9 (06)  “…a college campus.”

State Attorney General Liz Murrill is suing California and New York in her effort to extradite doctors for prescribing abortion pills to people in Louisiana. So far, those two states have ignored Louisiana’s requests because of their respective shield laws. But Murrill says that’s irrelevant, because in both cases, the women were forced to take abortion pills by either their mother or their boyfriend.

Cut 12 (11) “…what they’re doing.”

New Orleans continues its push to land the 2031 Super Bowl. Jay Cicero, the president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says everyone who has covered a Super Bowl in New Orleans has given the city rave reviews.

Cut 15 (06) “…around the country.”

Next year’s Super Bowl is taking place in Inglewood, California; in 2028, it will be in Atlanta, and scheduling conflicts will prevent New Orleans from hosting it in 2029 or 2030.

9:30 LRN Newscast

State Attorney General Liz Murrill is planning on suing New York and California in her fight to extradite doctors indicted for prescribing abortion pills to people in Louisiana. California Governor Gavin Newsom says his state will never help Louisiana criminalize healthcare. Murrill says Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul are playing politics.

Cut 11 (12) “…their gun laws.”

LSU-Alexandria sets a new enrollment record, with overall spring enrollment up almost 12-percent year-over-year. Abbey Bain with LSU-A says two main factors are small class sizes and cost.

Cut 5 (09) “…been possible before.”

Bain says there was also more than a 10-percent increase in on-campus enrollment for the spring semester.

The debate over whether guns should be permitted on college campuses will be up for debate again in the upcoming legislative session. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A teen who shot himself at the end of a high-speed chase through several parishes in southwest Louisiana has died. The chase happened mid-morning last Thursday through Beauregard, Calcasieu and Cameron parishes. The teen attended Oakdale High School. All schools in Oakdale are closed today so that students and faculty can attend his funeral.

8:30 AM LRN Newscast

California and New York have ignored Louisiana’s extradition requests on doctors indicted for mailing abortion pills to people in Louisiana.  The dispensing of abortion pills is illegal in Louisiana when prescribed outside of a hospital setting, but shield laws in those states protect reproductive rights. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill argues these cases don’t fit that requirement as both women in question were forced to take the bills by someone else.

Cut 12 (11) “…what they’re doing.”

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is bringing a bill that would allow constitutional carry to college campuses in the upcoming legislative session.  Though similar bills have failed in the past, McCormick says he was encouraged by a group of college students to make a run at it again.

Cut 8 (09) “…bill this year.”

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Santa Clara is done, and Inglewood is now on the clock. Andrew Greenstein reports New Orleans is continuing its push to land the 2031 Super Bowl.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU Alexandria sets another enrollment record, with spring enrollment up 12-percent year-over-year, marking the 12th straight semester of record growth. Abbey Bain with LSU-A says one of the biggest reasons for the continued growth is smaller class sizes.

Cut 4 (08) “…and support them.”

 

7:30 AM LRN Newscast

The debate over whether guns should be allowed on college campuses will resume in the upcoming legislative session. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

State Police have announced the arrest of a Slidell man on charges of child sexual exploitation.  Authorities say 42-year old Joshua W. Dugger had sexually explicit conversations with someone he believed was just 15 years old.  We’re told the multi-week investigation that led to the arrest was a joint effort between the LSP Special Victims Unit, the FBI, St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office and Covington PD.

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Attorney General Liz Murrill is considering filing lawsuits against New York and California in her fight to extradite doctors indicted for mailing abortion pills to individuals in Louisiana. And she believes she’d win. California Governor Gavin Newsom says his state will never help Louisiana criminalize healthcare. Murrill says Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul are playing politics.

Cut 11 (12) “…their gun laws.”

With the Santa Clara Super Bowl now in the books, people are looking to the future.  And in New Orleans, that means a continued focus on making a bid to host the 2031 Super Bowl.  Jay Cicero, president and CEO of the Greater new Orleans Sports Foundation, says the Crescent City proven it’s a great Super Bowl host, and it even has some advantages.

Cut 14 (09) “…host the event”

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU women’s basketball team dropped one spot to number six in the latest AP Top 25 poll. The Lady Tigers will host third ranked South Carolina on Saturday night.

The LSU men’s basketball team hosts 21st ranked Arkansas tonight. Tigers point guard DJ Thomas will miss another game with a foot injury.

Last night in college hoops…it was not easy but McNeese earned its 20th win of the season with a 73-69 victory over HCU. Nicholls lost by 20 to UT Rio Grande Valley. Nice road win for Northwestern state, who edged Lamar 70 to 68. Willie Williams had the go-ahead lay-up with four seconds left.

NBA…The Pelicans beat the Sacramento Kings 120 to 94.

After coaching LSU’s defensive line for just one year, Kyle Williams is returning to his alma mater. Williams, who previously served as Ruston High’s defensive coordinator, is rejoining the Bearcats staff as assistant Head Coach and also assistant athletics director.

______________________________________________________

The college baseball season gets underway on Friday. LSU sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide (AIR-um-bee-dee) made 19 starts last year, but he’s expected to get a majority of the starts behind the plate this season. Arrambide says his main focus in the offseason was improving his plate discipline…

Cut 17 (17) “….hard on that”

Expectations are low at ULM. For the Warhawks to surprise people, several players will need to have a big season. First year head coach Ford Pemberton says freshman infielder Sutton Lewis from Monroe is one of the players who has stood out leading up to the regular season.

Cut 20 (11) “…have that problem.”

6:30 AM LRN Newscast

LSU-Alexandria sets another enrollment record. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The debate over whether guns should be permitted on college campuses will be up for debate again in the upcoming legislative session.  “Constitutional carry,” as many conservatives call it, became legal in Louisiana in 2024. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick…

Cut 7 (08) “…included in that.”

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Attorney General Liz Murrill believes she would win a lawsuit against New York and California in her fight to extradite doctors indicted for mailing abortion pills to individuals in Louisiana. The dispensing of abortion pills outside a hospital setting is illegal in Louisiana. And Murrill says the US Constitution requires states to honor each other’s laws.

Cut 10 (12) “…in our state.”

The Santa Clara Super Bowl is behind us and Inglewood is up next.  The 2028 Super Bowl is set to be held in Atlanta, and the NFL has yet to award anything beyond that point. New Orleans continues to make a strong bid to host the 2031 Super Bowl – and Jay Cicero, the president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says the city has a proven record when it comes to hosting the Super Bowl.

Cut 13 (06)  “…ambience, planning, experience.”