LRN AM Newscall

Governor Landry gets a first-hand look at the flooding in Avoyelles Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Early voting is over, so this Saturday is the last chance for you to make your voice heard in the U.S. Senate runoffs. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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The 2026 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is this coming Saturday; and Hall President Ronnie Rantz says fans can stay busy all weekend. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Governor Landry took an aerial tour of the flooding in Avoyelles Parish Friday afternoon, and what he saw from the air took his breath away.

Cut 4 (10) “…was certainly impactful.”

Avoyelles is one of six parishes included in Landry’s disaster declaration following torrential rains both during and after Tropical Storm Arthur. Landry is also working to secure a federal disaster declaration for Avoyelles Parish, which would free up federal dollars for recovery efforts. Landry said those affected can help speed up the process by documenting their damage at damage.la.gov.

Cut 5 (11) “…up the chain.”

Landry also expressed frustration over the relatively low number of people in Avoyelles Parish who carry flood insurance.

Cut 6 (10) “…can’t afford it.”

Earlier, Joey Frank, the director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, noted that most of Avoyelles Parish is not in a flood zone. He called this event a “one-thousand-year flood.”

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Early voting is over, so voters have one more chance this Saturday to head to the polls to make their voices heard in the U.S. Senate runoffs. The race getting the most attention has been on the Republican side, with Julia Letlow and John Fleming battling it out for the nomination. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says President Trump’s endorsement of Letlow could play an outsized role.

Cut 7 (11) “…of Donald Trump.”

In the primary, Letlow finished 15 points ahead of Fleming, and a poll showing Letlow ahead by that margin since advancing to the runoff appeared to indicate that she was pulling away. But a recent poll commissioned by the Letlow campaign actually showed her trailing Fleming. Hogan says that’s proof that this is anyone’s contest.

Cut 8 (08) “…their minds yet.”

Hogan says while neither campaign delivered the proverbial knockout blow, one campaign committed a potentially fatal unforced error.

Cut 9 (14)  “…the Fleming campaign.”

On the Democratic side, former Tensas Parish police juror Jamie Davis is squaring off against Gary Crockett, who has never held elected office. Hogan says the winner of the Republican race will be the odds-on favorite to win the general election in November.

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One group is sounding the alarm over federal road funding, especially in light of the condition of America’s roads. Brian Turmail, the vice president of the Associated General Contractors of America, says 51-percent of Louisiana’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and that costs drivers almost 900 dollars a year.

Cut 10 (12) “…such rough pavement.”

Congress needs to pass a new transportation funding bill by September 30th to ensure that there will be enough money to pay for maintenance of roads, bridges and transit systems. Turmail says the solution his group is proposing is to add a federal EV and hybrid vehicle tax to compensate for the federal gasoline taxes they’re not paying. 

Cut 11 (10) “…federal fuel tax.”

Turmail says EV drivers in particular are getting a free ride, and they should be paying their fair share towards the funding used to maintain roads and bridges.

Cut 12 (10) “…a gas car.”

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The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be inducted in Natchitoches this weekend. Hall President and CEO Ronnie Rantz says there will be events celebrating the inductees all weekend. He says his favorite day is Friday, kicked off by the Celebrity Bowling Bash at the Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria.

Cut 13 (10)  “…the whole family.”

Headlining this year’s class are former LSU Tigers Warren Morris, Todd MccLure and Sylvia Fowles. Saints wide receiver Joe Horn and LSU basketball coach John Brady are also in the 12-person class. Friday evening is the Rockin’ River Fest with live music on the Natchitoches riverfront.

Cut 14 (09) “…bring the family.”

The induction ceremony will be Saturday night and will be broadcast on LPB across the state. Rantz says there will be even more opportunities for family fun during the day.

Cut 15 (09) “…a Cane’s lunch.”

And for the parents, there will be a round table luncheon and Q&A with the inductees.

Rantz says many events are free, but you can purchase VIP tickets and find more information about the 2026 class at L-A-sports-hall-dot-com.

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After missing the postseason for the first time since 2011, LSU is revamping its baseball roster. Coach Jay Johnson has added six new talents from the transfer portal, including top portal prospect Bino Watters. Johnson says the Notre Dame outfielder is a complete player.

Cut 16 (16) “…from Notre Dame.”

Johnson also added Tulane outfielder Jason Wachs, who’s been the Green Wave’s best hitter the last two seasons. The transfer duo is expected to slot into the corners of the outfield.

The Tigers also landed a duo of experienced infielders. Florida transfer Cade Kurland has 190 starts in four years with the Gators and will likely be the LSU starting second baseman. With Steven Milam returning, Johnson says Texas State sophomore shortstop Dawson Park can shift over to third.

Cut 17 (14) “…to move around.”

On the mound, Johnson welcomes two talented arms coming off their freshman seasons. Gonzaga righty Landon Hood was the number-one pitcher in the portal with a fastball that touches 97. USC’s Diego Velazquez showed great command both as a starter and in relief for the Trojans this year. Johnson says they’ll complement a young staff he has faith in.

Cut 18 (15) “…Cooper Moore back.”

11:30 AM LRN Newscast

Governor Landry’s plan to redirect money to pay stipends to teachers and support staff hits a road block. An East Baton Rouge Parish judge grants a temporary restraining order blocking the move, ruling that bypassing the legislature violated separation of powers. The plaintiffs’ spokesman, Greg Beuerman, says Landry’s order takes away authority from BESE.

Cut 7 (11) “…the wrong venue.”

It’s being called a “1,000-year flood.” Avoyelles Parish was the heaviest hit by the torrential rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, getting two and a half feet of rain dumped on it in less than 12 hours. Joey Frank, the director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says the scene is mind-boggling.

Cut 3 (07) “…halfway to structures.”

 

For years, WalletHub has done annual rankings for life as working moms for Mother’s Day. This year, for the first time, it did a ranking for life as working dads for Father’s Day, and it shows Louisiana with an overall ranking next to last, ahead of only Nevada. Analyst Chip Lupo says the fact that Louisiana is a predominantly rural state plays a major role in its low ranking.

Cut 12 (08) “…of cases, unaffordable.”

The clock is ticking if you haven’t gotten your crawfish fix this season. With summer temperatures rising, crawfish are burrowing, and the season is ending. Laney King, the co-founder of The Crawfish App, says you might find a few stragglers at vendors and restaurants until the Fourth of July in South Louisiana.

Cut 9 (11)  “…a great product.”

10:30 AM LRN Newscast

The National Weather Service has confirmed eight tornadoes touched down across Louisiana and Mississippi on June 18th, 2026, with damage surveys revealing significant impacts to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.  The survey work continues on several areas, including Eden Isle, where meteorologists are analyzing whether additional weak tornadoes occurred within widespread wind damage.  The tornado activity began early Thursday morning around 2:49 a.m. and continued through the morning hours, with the last confirmed tornado occurring around 8:12 a.m.

An East Baton Rouge Parish judge granted a temporary restraining order to block Governor Landry’s executive order to reallocate 168-million-dollars in the state’s public school funding formula to provide stipends for teachers. Greg Beuerman, the spokesman for the three plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit against the order, says it’s unconstitutional.

Cut 6 (13) “…ability to do.”

There’s a hearing set for June 29th.

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For the first time, WalletHub did a ranking for life as working dads for Father’s Day, and it shows Louisiana with an overall ranking next to last, ahead of only Nevada. Louisiana ranked no higher than 45th in nearly all metrics, with one exception: the male uninsured rate, in which Louisiana ranks 32nd. But Analyst Chip Lupo says, that number is being held down due to a large number of areas of high unemployment.

Cut 14 (10) “…healthcare insurance suffers.”

If you haven’t gotten your crawfish fix this season, experts say time is running out as crawfish are starting to burrow. Laney King, the co-founder of The Crawfish App, says prices will stay where they are because there are simply fewer crawfish available and she says now crawfish are as affordable as they’ve been this season.

Cut 10 (06) “…two-99 a pound.”

9:30 AM LRN Newscast

A Baton Rouge judge issued a temporary restraining order against Governor Landry’s executive order to redirect public school funding to teacher stipends. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

After a career with Louisiana State Police spanning more than three decades, Colonel Robert Hodges announces that he will be retiring as superintendent this fall. Hodges has been leading L-S-P since 2024. Shortly after making the announcement, Governor Landry tapped Lieutenant Colonel Frank Besson to transition into that role.

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A new WalletHub survey ranks Louisiana next to last in the nation for working dads, getting low marks for percentage of kids under 18 with their father present living in poverty, male life expectancy and average length of a work day for men. We asked analyst Chip Lupo whether Louisiana would have had a higher ranking if the rankings only accounted for the well-populated areas of each state.

Cut 13 (09) “…but not much.”

Two and a half feet of rain in less than 12 hours. That’s what Avoyelles Parish had to deal with Thursday, as the torrential rains transformed neighborhoods into lakes. Joey Frank, the director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says flood waters continued forcing people from their homes Friday.

Cut 4 (08) “…200 right now.”

8:30 AM LRN Newscast

Governor Landry’s plan to redirect money to pay stipends to teachers and support staff hits a road block. An East Baton Rouge Parish judge grants a temporary restraining order blocking the move, ruling that bypassing the legislature violated separation of powers. The plaintiffs’ spokesman, Greg Beuerman, says Landry’s order takes away authority from BESE.

Cut 7 (11) “…the wrong venue.”

It’s being called a “1,000-year flood.” Avoyelles Parish was the heaviest hit by the torrential rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, getting two and a half feet of rain dumped on it in less than 12 hours. Joey Frank, the director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says the scene is mind-boggling.

Cut 3 (07) “…halfway to structures.”

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For years, WalletHub has done annual rankings for life as working moms for Mother’s Day. This year, for the first time, it did a ranking for life as working dads for Father’s Day, and it shows Louisiana with an overall ranking next to last, ahead of only Nevada. Analyst Chip Lupo says the fact that Louisiana is a predominantly rural state plays a major role in its low ranking.

Cut 12 (08) “…of cases, unaffordable.”

The clock is ticking if you haven’t gotten your crawfish fix this season. With summer temperatures rising, crawfish are burrowing, and the season is ending. Laney King, the co-founder of The Crawfish App, says you might find a few stragglers at vendors and restaurants until the Fourth of July in South Louisiana.

Cut 9 (11)  “…a great product.”

 

 

7:30 LRN Sportscast

The C-W-S Championship Series begins tonight between U-N-C and Oklahoma. The Tarheels came into the tournament as the fifth national seed while the Sooners snuck their way into Georgia Tech’s regional as one of the last teams to make it in. LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson says the teams have had very different paths to get here, but none of that matters now.

Cut 20 (16) “…shaking out.”

The U.S. Men’s National Team clinched a spot in the knockout round of the World Cup with a 2-0 win over Australia yesterday. Both goals for the Stars and Stripes came in the first half, including an own goal from the Socceroos. It is the first shutout for the U.S. since September of last year. The Americans were without star Christian Pulisic, who is nursing a calf injury aggravated in the team’s opening match against Paraguay. They will have one more group stage game next week.

After losing nine players to the transfer portal already, LSU softball is finally punching back. The Tigers landed their first portal commitment in Notre Dame outfielder Mickey Winchell. The senior was a four-year starter with the Irish and hit .335 with 14 stolen bases this season. Winchell was the ACC Freshman of the Year in 2023.

LSU signee Braxton Beaty has withdrawn his name from the Major League Baseball Draft. The left-hander from Angleton, Texas will enroll at LSU for the Fall Semester. According to Perfect Game, Beaty has a fastball in the low 90s and a wipeout slider.

Running back Mark Ingram and offensive tackle Terron Armstead will be inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame as its class of 2026. Ingram ranks second in franchise history with 65-hundred rushing yards and 52 touchdowns in 10 seasons with the Saints. The three-time Pro Bowler was picked in the first round of the 2011 draft by New Orleans and says the city changed his life.

Cut 16 (12) “…it in words.”

5:30 LRN Newscast

Two and a half feet of rain in less than 12 hours. That’s what Avoyelles Parish had to deal with Thursday, as the torrential rains transformed neighborhoods into lakes. Joey Frank, the director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says flood waters continued forcing people from their homes Friday.

Cut 4 (08) “…200 right now.”

A new WalletHub survey ranks Louisiana next to last in the nation for working dads, getting low marks for percentage of kids under 18 with their father present living in poverty, male life expectancy and average length of a work day for men. We asked analyst Chip Lupo whether Louisiana would have had a higher ranking if the rankings only accounted for the well-populated areas of each state.

Cut 13 (09) “…but not much.”

A Baton Rouge judge issued a temporary restraining order against Governor Landry’s executive order to redirect public school funding to teacher stipends. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

After a career with Louisiana State Police spanning more than three decades, Colonel Robert Hodges announces that he will be retiring as superintendent this fall. Hodges has been leading L-S-P since 2024. Shortly after making the announcement, Governor Landry tapped Lieutenant Colonel Frank Besson to transition into that role.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The U.S. Men’s National Team clinched a spot in the knockout round of the World Cup with a 2-0 win over Australia today. Both goals for the Stars and Stripes came in the first half, including an own goal from the Socceroos. It is the first shutout for the U.S. since September of last year. The Americans were without star Christian Pulisic, who is nursing a calf injury aggravated in the team’s opening match against Paraguay. They will have one more group stage game next week.

The C-W-S Championship Series begins tomorrow between U-N-C and Oklahoma. The Tarheels came into the tournament as the fifth national seed while the Sooners snuck their way into Georgia Tech’s regional as one of the last teams to make it in. LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson says the teams have had very different paths to get here, but none of that matters now.

Cut 20 (16) “…shaking out.”

After losing nine players to the transfer portal already, LSU softball is finally punching back. The Tigers landed their first portal commitment in Notre Dame outfielder Mickey Winchell. The senior was a four-year starter with the Irish and hit .335 with 14 stolen bases this season. Winchell was the ACC Freshman of the Year in 2023.

LSU signee Braxton Beaty has withdrawn his name from the Major League Baseball Draft. The left-hander from Angleton, Texas will enroll at LSU for the Fall Semester. According to Perfect Game, Beaty has a fastball in the low 90s and a wipeout slider.

Running back Mark Ingram and offensive tackle Terron Armstead will be inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame as its class of 2026. Ingram ranks second in franchise history with 65-hundred rushing yards and 52 touchdowns in 10 seasons with the Saints. The three-time Pro Bowler was picked in the first round of the 2011 draft by New Orleans and says the city changed his life.

Cut 16 (12) “…it in words.”

4:30 LRN Newscast

It’s being called a “1,000-year flood.” Avoyelles Parish was the heaviest hit by the torrential rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, getting two and a half feet of rain dumped on it in less than 12 hours. Joey Frank, the director of the Avoyelles Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says the scene is mind-boggling.

Cut 3 (07) “…halfway to structures.”

Governor Landry’s plan to redirect money to pay stipends to teachers and support staff hits a road block. An East Baton Rouge Parish judge grants a temporary restraining order blocking the move, ruling that bypassing the legislature violated separation of powers. The plaintiffs’ spokesman, Greg Beuerman, says Landry’s order takes away authority from BESE.

Cut 7 (11) “…the wrong venue.”

For years, WalletHub has done annual rankings for life as working moms for Mother’s Day. This year, for the first time, it did a ranking for life as working dads for Father’s Day, and it shows Louisiana with an overall ranking next to last, ahead of only Nevada. Analyst Chip Lupo says the fact that Louisiana is a predominantly rural state plays a major role in its low ranking.

Cut 12 (08) “…of cases, unaffordable.” 

The clock is ticking if you haven’t gotten your crawfish fix this season. With summer temperatures rising, crawfish are burrowing, and the season is ending. Laney King, the co-founder of The Crawfish App, says you might find a few stragglers at vendors and restaurants until the Fourth of July in South Louisiana.

Cut 9 (11)  “…a great product.”

The good news – live crawfish is averaging $2.99 a pound.

3:30 LRN Newscast

Avoyelles Parish was hit with two and a half feet of rain in just 12 hours. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

St. Landry Parish is preparing for flooding as floodwaters make their way into Avoyelles Parish Waterways and head south. Parish government is evaluating possible evacuations for areas expected to experience flooding this weekend. Areas under consideration include LA 71 east to the Atchafalaya River and from the Avoyelles Parish line south toward U.S. 190.

An East Baton Rouge Parish judge granted a temporary restraining order to block Governor Landry’s executive order to reallocate 168-million-dollars in the state’s public school funding formula to provide stipends for teachers. Greg Beuerman, the spokesman for the three plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit against the order, says it’s unconstitutional.

Cut 6 (13) “…ability to do.”

Louisiana came 49th in WalletHub’s ranking of the best states for working dads. The state finished 45th or worse in every metric but the male uninsured rate, in which Louisiana ranked 32nd. Analyst Chip Lupo says that number is being held down due to a large number of areas of high unemployment.

Cut 14 (10) “…healthcare insurance suffers.”