1:30 LRN Newscast

It had been rumored for days; now, those rumors can be put to rest – SpaceX is building a 100-billion dollar launch facility on Louisiana’s coast in Vermilion Parish. It will be capable of supporting thousands of launches annually. Governor Landry says this is a pivotal moment for Louisiana.

Cut 13 (10) “…lasting prosperity.”

SpaceX expects the historic project to create at least three-thousand new jobs, if not thousands more. SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell says 60 to 80-percent of the new hires at its Texas base are local, and it plans to do that in Louisiana as well. She says a wide variety of skills will be needed.

Cut 11 (12) “…Spaceport.”

The Louisiana Republican Party endorses Blake Miguez in the sixth congressional district race.

Cut 7 (09) “…Democrat to Republican.” 

But Miguez’s main GOP opponent, Rick Edmonds, says the executive committee made its choice after a majority of the central committee members picked him instead. Still, Edmonds says he’s confident in his campaign.

Cut 9 (05)  “…Democrat or otherwise.”

Despite having previously signed an NBA contract, LSU signee RJ Luis is granted a preliminary injunction to return to college basketball. One of Luis’ attorneys, Tony Clayton, told WBRZ he shared an emotional embrace with him after the ruling.

Cut 5 (07) “…kid’s shoulder.”

The NCAA is likely to appeal the decision, and the SEC could take action to rule Luis ineligible.

12:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry and SpaceX announce plans to build a 100-billion dollar spaceport on Louisiana’s coast in Vermilion Parish that will be capable of supporting thousands of launches annually. SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell says this spaceport will become the largest in the world.

Cut 10 (11) “..probably an airport.” 

Despite signing two NBA and G-League contracts, LSU signee RJ Luis is being allowed to return to college basketball. This, following a temporary injunction granted by a Baton Rouge judge. Luis’ attorney, Elliot Abrams, tells WBRZ this decision is not the death of the NCAA.

Cut 4 (11) “…to reason.”

The Louisiana Republican Party makes its pick in the sixth congressional district race, and some within the GOP ranks are not taking too kindly to that. On Sunday, the executive committee endorsed Blake Miguez, who says he’s humbled to have the state party’s backing.

Cut 6 (07) “…congressional district six.”

Miguez’s most formidable Republican opponent in the district six race, Rick Edmonds, is not taking too kindly to the committee’s Sunday endorsement. Edmonds says the committee acted in defiance of the sixth district central committee, saying he had the backing of more of those members than Miguez.

Cut 8 (07) “…lot of anger.”

Governor Landry is reportedly among those upset by the executive committee’s decision.

The celebration of life ceremony for legendary LSU head baseball coach and athletic director Skip Bertman will be at seven this evening at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at LSU.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU basketball is signing another overseas pro, 7-foot-3 Israeli center Gilad Levy. The 24-year-old played in the Spanish pro league last season, averaging less than two points and two rebounds in about five and a half minutes a game in his 18 appearances.

Yesterday, a Baton Rouge judge granted another LSU signee RJ Luis a preliminary injunction allowing him to return to college basketball after signing two NBA and G League contracts. Luis’s attorney, Elliot Abrams, told WBRZ in Baton Rouge that with N-I-L and revenue sharing allowing schools to pay athletes directly, the NCAA is now a professional sports league.

Cut 3 (12) “…cries wolf.”

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that the Big Ten is passing a rule to ban former pros from playing for a Big Ten school, and the SEC is considering a similar rule.

A Celebration of Life for LSU legend Skip Bertman will be held in the P-MAC tonight at 7 with doors opening to the public at 6. Former LSU pitcher Doug Thompson says LSU fans are known for showing up for their teams, and he hopes that the PMAC is bursting at the seams with Tiger fans honoring Bertman.

Cut 8 (08) “…we’re so unique.”

The ceremony will also be broadcast on ESPN-plus and the SEC Network.

One of the former NFL players to commit to LSU is ex-Saints undrafted free agent Zxavien Harris. Head coach Kellen Moore’s brother, Kirby,  is the head coach at Washington State, and he says the slew of lawsuits giving players a fifth season of eligibility puts coaches in a bind.

Cut 18 (17) “…developed here shortly.”

11:30 LRN Newscast

A huge announcement is going down right now in Abbeville as Governor Landry and SpaceX officials are announcing a monumental economic development project that will lead to thousands of jobs and rockets being launched off the coast of Louisiana in Vermilion Parish.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

State officials say the new spaceport will become the largest in the world. Construction is expected to start next year with the first launch planned for 2029. The company is expected to create three-thousand new direct jobs.

 

A Baton Rouge judge granted LSU basketball signee RJ Luis a preliminary injunction allowing him to return to college basketball after signing two NBA and G League contracts. Luis’s attorney, Elliot Abrams, told WBRZ in Baton Rouge that with N-I-L and revenue sharing allowing schools to pay athletes directly, the NCAA is now a professional sports league.

Cut 3 (12) “…cries wolf.”

The NCAA is likely to appeal.

Thumb arthritis affects between 25 and 33-percent of adults over the age of 50, mostly women. Doctor Diego Miranda at Willis Knighten Health in Bossier is performing a new treatment option to help relieve painful, qualify-of-life limiting symptoms….

Cut 15 (08) “…for this procedure”

The procedure takes about an hour and is typically performed as an outpatient surgery.

10:30 LRN Newscast

A huge announcement will take place in the next hour in Abbeville where officials have gathered to announce that Space X will build a spaceport on Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish. Parish president Chad Vallo says this is a monumental day for his parish…

Cut 29 (14) “….very good jobs”

The Pecan Island area is a haven for hunting and fishing, and outdoor enthusiasts are concerned about what the spaceport will mean for them.

A New Orleans teacher is upset with Louisiana’s law that requires public schools to publish the 10 Commandments in every classroom. Chris Dier teaches history at Benjamin Franklin High School, and he’s petitioned the U-S Supreme Court to look at Louisiana’s 10 commandments law, because he believes it violates the Establishment Clause.

 

Willis Knighton Health in Bossier City is the first facility in the region to offer a new treatment for thumb arthritis. It’s called the TOUCH CMC 1 Prosthesis. The joint surfaces are replaced with a dual-mobility ball-and-socket implant. Dr. Diego Miranda says it’s an outpatient procedure, and the recovery time is three weeks.

Cut 14 (09) “…from then on.”

Tonight at 7 PM it is the Celebration of Life memorial at the PMAC for legendary LSU baseball coach and athletics director Skip Bertman. Before the doors of the PMAC open to the public at 6 PM, there will be a private ceremony for family, staff and former players. Former LSU pitcher Doug Thompson…

Cut 9 (09) “…with his boys”

Governor Landry ordered flags to be flown at half-mast today in Bertman’s honor.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Landry is expected to announce the construction of a SpaceX launch site in Vermilion Parish today. The area was hit hard by Hurricane Rita in 2005, and Parish President Chad Vallo says SpaceX’s arrival should lead to better protections to avoid a repeat occurrence.

Cut 6 (13) “…us as well.”

LSU’s celebration of Skip Bertman’s life will be held in the PMAC tonight at 7 p-m. The event honoring the Louisiana legend who passed away at the age of 88 earlier this month is open to the public. Doors open at 6 p-m, with general admission seating around the upper bowl available. Doug Thompson, one of Bertman’s national champion pitchers, says it is a great chance to celebrate an icon.

Cut 7 (11) “…to do it.”

While LSU football coach Lane Kiffin gains commitments from former NFL players, basketball coach Will Wade just brought a former NBA player to campus. In a case not related to the fifth-year eligibility lawsuits across the country, a Baton Rouge judge granted LSU signee RJ Luis a preliminary injunction to return to college basketball after declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft and signing two professional contracts. Luis never played in a pro game due to injury, and his attorneys argue NIL has blurred the distinction between amateur and professional leagues and compensation.

The LHSAA has seen a 10-percent increase in multi-sport officials from last year, with 926 of its approximately four-thousand officials calling more than one sport. Director of Officials Lee Sanders says they are also working to recruit and train the next generation of multi-sport officials, and a lot of skills needed to officiate one sport can work for another.

Cut 11 (09) “…sport to another.”

8:30 AM LRN Newscast

A celebration of life ceremony for the legendary Skip Bertman will be held in the PMAC tonight. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Republican state Senator Blake Miguez has picked up the endorsement of the Louisiana Republican party in the race for Louisiana’s 6th Congressional district.  The November 3rd election is what’s known as a jungle primary, which means all candidates, regardless of party, will be on the same ballot.

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Big announcement expected from Governor Landry this morning regarding plans for SpaceX to build a spaceport in coastal Vermillion Parsish.  The Pecan Island area is a haven for hunting and fishing, and outdoor enthusiasts are concerned about what the spaceport will mean for them. But Parish President Chad Vallo says he’s confident the net for Vermilion Parish will be overwhelmingly positive, just as a similar project in Brownsville, Texas, has been.

Cut 5 (07) “…community as well.”

Willis Knighton Health in Bossier City is the first facility in the region to offer a new treatment for thumb arthritis. It’s called the TOUCH CMC 1 Prosthesis, and it’s being performed by hand and wrist surgery specialist Dr. Diego Miranda, who says while traditional treatments require complete removal of the trapezium (tra-PEE-zee-um) bone, this new procedure keeps it intact.

Cut 13 (05)  “…the joint surfaces.”

7:30 AM LRN Newscast

Governor Landry will be in Abbeville this morning, where he’s expected to announce that SpaceX will be building a spaceport in Vermilion Parish. Here’s Andrew Greenstein.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Poice in Eunice have identified the two victims who were killed in Saturday morning’s shooting as 22 year old Davion Fugett and 34 year old Rico Morgan, both of Eunice. The two were killed when five people were shot early Saturday at Chip’s Daiquiris there. So far, no arrests have been made but police say they have identified a person of interest.

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LSU’s celebration of Louisiana legend Skip Bertman’s life will be held in the PMAC tonight at 7.  Doors are set to open at six and the event is open to the public. The ceremony will also be broadcast on ESPN-plus and the SEC Network. Doug Thompson, one of Bertman’s national champion pitchers, says LSU fans are known for showing up for their teams, and he hopes that the PMAC is bursting at the seams with Tiger fans honoring Bertman.

Cut 8 (08) “…we’re so unique.”

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is seeing more multi-sport officials. Director of Officials Lee Sanders says there are about four-thousand officials, and 926 of them work multiple sports, which is a 10-percent increase from last year and a 22-percent increase from 2024.

Cut 10 (07) “…and member schools.”

 

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin is defending the program’s decision to recruit NFL players that have been granted a fifth year of college eligibility. Kiffin says his obligation is to LSU and its fans and to go recruit the best available players.

Cut 27 (13) “…against them.”

The NCAA approved a new five-year eligibility model this summer that opened the door for hundreds of athletes who just finished their eligibility to file lawsuits to get the fifth year many of their teammates and future athletes will now receive.

A Baton Rouge judge has also granted another year of eligibility to former Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis, who signed with LSU back in May. The NCAA argued Luis is not eligible after signing contracts with two different NBA teams, but Luis never appeared in a regular season game.

 

The Saints will close out the preseason against the Cowboys on Friday. New Orleans will carry three kickers on the roster after signing two-time All-Pro Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson. Head coach Kellen Moore says the veteran will join the competition between Charlie Smyth and Tannar Hudson.

Cut 16 (09) “…go from there.”

Carlson is 31-years-old and was just 22 of 27 on field goals last year for the Raiders.

Tonight at 7 PM it is the Celebration of Life memorial at the PMAC for legendary LSU baseball coach and athletics director Skip Bertman. Before the doors of the PMAC open to the public at 6 PM, there will be a private ceremony for family, staff and former players. Former LSU pitcher Doug Thompson…

Cut 9 (09) “…with his boys”

Governor Landry ordered flags to be flown at half-mast today in Bertman’s honor.

6:30 AM LRN Newscast

LSU’s celebration of Skip Bertman’s life will be held in the PMAC tonight at 7 p-m. The event honoring the Louisiana legend who passed away at the age of 88 earlier this month is open to the public. Doors open at 6 p-m, with general admission seating around the upper bowl available. Doug Thompson, one of Bertman’s national champion pitchers, says it is a great opportunity to celebrate an icon.

Cut 7 (11) “…to do it.”

Governor Jeff Landry will be in Abbeville this morning, where he’s expected to announce that SpaceX will be building a spaceport in coastal Vermilion Parish. Parish President Chad Vallo this is a monumental day for his parish.

Cut 4 (14) “…very good jobs.”

The news conference is scheduled to start this morning at 11.

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The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is pleased to see the number of officials who are working multiple sports is growing. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the U-s Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating the illegal shooting and killing of a bald eagle.  It happened in Vermillion Parish in early December of last year.  A reward of up to 20-thousand dollars is being offered to anyone with information that leads to a conviction in this case.