9:30 LRN Newscast April 5

The House Education Committee approves a bill that calls for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public classroom from elementary school to college on a ten to three vote. Co-Author of the bill, Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says several religions follow the Ten Commandments…

Cut 12 (08) “…first lawgiver.” 

Horton’s legislation calls for the Ten Commandments to be displayed on a poster that would be purchased by private funds. Representative Barbara Freiberg believes Horton’s mandate for the displaying of the Ten Commandments sends the wrong message.

Cut 13 (13)  “…religious faiths”

The U-S Supreme Court ruled that posting the Ten Commandments in classroom was unconstitutional because it violated the church and state clause.

Senate Transportation approves legislation that would repeal a bill to install speed cameras on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The bill would also reverse doubling the fine for a speeding ticket. New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez, co-author of the bill, believes local law enforcement is the better option to patrol that stretch of roadway.

Cut 5 (12) “…deter crime.” 

The measure heads to the Senate Floor.

If you’re preparing for Monday’s total solar eclipse, you need to be aware of the dangers of viewing the astronomical marvel without proper eye protection. Tulane School of Medicine, Chair of Ophthalmology Dr. David Hinkle says it is never advisable to look directly at the sun.

Cut 9 (09)  “…totality.”

For Louisiana, the eclipse will begin around 12:30, with the best view around 1:45.

4:30 LRN Newscast April 4

Colorado State University hurricane researcher, Isaac Schluesche says the 2024 hurricane season is going to be an active one with 23 named storms, eleven hurricanes, and five major storms. He says record warm sea surface temperatures and the return of La Nina is why they anticipate such a busy hurricane season.

Cut 4 (09) “…and hurricanes.” 

Tradewinds over the Atlantic that typically cause cooling of the water are predicted to be weak.

Matthew Marsiglia, an LSU student faces a manslaughter charge in the death of 26-year-old Devin Repath who died from a head injury following a fight outside of Fred’s Bar and Grill. Baton Rouge Police Corporal Saundra Watts says Matthew Marsiglia pushed Devin Repath to the ground….

Cut 6  (10) “…injuries.” 

A manslaughter charge carries up to a 40-year prison sentence in Louisiana.

Legislation to require public schools to provide menstrual products heads to Appropriations. Tess, a 9th grade student at Willow School in New Orleans told House Education committee members, it’s not a matter of students forgetting to bring them to school.

Cut 8 (08) “…these products.” 

New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman hopes the third time is the charm for her bill.

Starting August 1st, licensed Louisiana sports books will no longer offer prop bets involving a college athlete. A prop bet is when gamblers place a bet on how many touchdowns a quarterback will throw or how many points a basketball player will score. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns…

Cut 13 (10) “..sports betting.”

Vermont, Ohio and Maryland have also banned college prop bets.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Tigers have started SEC play with a 2 and 7 record and currently have a four game losing streak heading into this weeks series against Vanderbilt. LSU Head Coach Jay Johnson says that the Tigers losses are against Omaha contending teams and that there won’t be many breaks in conference play this season.

Cut 17 (18) “… perfectly.”

LSU hosts Vanderbilt tonight with first pitch at 6 pm on ESPN2.

In baseball news across the state, McNeese had no trouble against Alcorn State last night. Junior Outfielder Conner Westenburg went 4 for 4 for the pokes and drove in four RBI’s as McNeese won 11 to 4.

And ULM defeated Northwestern State yesterday 10 to 6. The Warhawks were able to score all 10 of their runs with two outs in the inning and the game marked ULM’s first win in Natchitoches since 2013.

The New Orleans Pelicans are still winless in the month of April this season as the Magic defeated the Pelicans 117 to 108. The game marks New Orleans’s third straight loss and Pelicans Head Coach Willie Green says that his team can’t focus on the losses with six games left still to play in the season.

Cut 28 (10) “… deal for us..”

The Pelicans are now in sixth place in the Western standings and will host the Spurs tomorrow at 7 pm.

And Governor Jeff Landry wants college boards in Louisiana to implement policies that will put athletic scholarships at risk if student-athletes are not present for the national anthem. Governor Landry says that it’s a matter that deals with respect and unity.

Cut 9 (12) “… that anthem.”

The need for these changes came after LSU women’s basketball team was not present for the national anthem in their game against the Hawkeyes on Monday.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

First year LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan has been very impressed with returning receiver Kyren Lacy. Sloan says Lacy’s ability to lead the Tiger’s receiver room and the effort he puts into offseason training helps to improve LSU’s practices and inspire his own teammates.

Cut 17 (20) “… on Saturday”

Lacy is LSU’s leading returning receiver

Neville high school will begin their search for a new football head coach after Jeff Tannehill has resigned.

And the rematch of last year’s national championship between the Iowa Hawkeyes and LSU Lady Tigers is now the most-watched women’s college basketball game on record. The game averaged 12.3 million viewers which tops the largest audience for a men’s or women’s college basketball game on ESPN.

LSU Head Coach Jay Johnson is taking a no screens coaching approach in order to help the Tigers focus and play better baseball this season. College Baseball Analyst Ronnie Rantz says that this idea has the potential to really help players focus on the game.

Cut 29 (11) “… at their phone.”

Johnson says that he’ll keep the policy in place until his team improves.

And last night UL-Lafayette defeated Nicholls 13 to 3 to extend their winning streak to 12 games. The Ragin Cajuns saw a lot of offensive success in the game as Duncan Pastore had his first four-hit game this season, Kyle Debarge hit his ninth home run of the season, and John Taylor drove in three runs to extend his hit streak to seventeen games.

And in more baseball news around the state, both Louisiana Tech and Southeastern won their games in walk-off fashion as the Bulldogs defeated Little Rock and the Lions defeated Southern Miss both by a score of 7 to 6. Northwestern State defeated Grambling 4 to 1 and they will face ULM tonight at 6 pm.

9:30 LRN Newscast April 3

Governor Landry is suggesting a policy to take scholarships away from student-athletes who are not present for the national anthem following the absence of LSU women’s basketball team during the national anthem before the game against Iowa. LSU says both men’s and women’s basketball teams have not been on the court for the national anthem for the last several years. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says everyone needs to take a step back.

Cut 8 (13) “…then on.” 

Pinsonat says Landry has been flexing his political muscle during his four months in office, but taking scholarships away from collegiate athletes might be too much…

Matthew Baker, founder of Heros Everywhere Animal Rescue, has committed to sleeping outside with their 64 rescue dogs. He’s hoping to raise $250,000 to build an animal shelter in Evangeline Parish. He said his wife Bre is just as committed to the shelter.

Cut 11 (06) “…with the dogs.”

To donate or adopt, visit LouisianaRadioNetwork.com.

Legislation requiring speed cameras to also get a picture of speeding drivers receives approval from the House Transportation Committee. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Colleen Crain”

The Lincoln Parish Journal cites the City of Ruston and the Department of Transportation and Development will sign a memorandum of understanding next week that will clear the way for the start of the construction of a new Buc-ee’s. The city already has $5 million from the state, $6 million from the federal government, and city council approved $15 million to fund the construction of service roads, interchanges, etc. for the toothy beaver superstore.

12:30 LRN Newscast

The House Appropriations Committee has approved a proposal that would provide thousands of dollars to a family to pay for private school tuition or other education expenses.  Once the program gets fully implemented it will cost the state an estimated 500-million dollars annually. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley is hearing concerns about taking money away from public schools…

Cut 9 (10) “…this bill” 

The measure passed on a 13 to 8 vote.

Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell has filed a bill that would mandate a five-day school week. Nine school systems have some or all their schools with four-day weeks. And supporters of a four-day week sayit helps with teacher recruitment. Mizell questions what happens if more schools go to a four-day week.

Cut 11 (11) “…teacher recruitment.”

After last night’s season ending loss, LSU’s Angel Reese opens up about the hate she’s received since winning the national championship. Beau Gaspard has more…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Beau Gaspard” 

For only the fourth time ever Southern beat LSU in baseball 12-7 last night.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Lady Tigers NCAA tournament run has come to an end this season with their loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes last night 94 to 87. The game saw Iowa’s Catlin Clark score 41 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists and LSU’s Angel Reese score 20 rebounds, 4 assists, and 17 points. Reese says that she’s proud of how she has stayed strong while handling off the court issues after winning the national championship last season.

Cut 15 (12) “… single time.”

The game is likely to be Angel Reese’s last game as a Lady Tiger as she is predicted to be a top 10 pick in the WNBA Draft.

And the New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Phoenix Suns last night 124 to 111. The game feature Phoenix’s star guard Devin Booker scoring 52 points for the second time this season against the Pelicans. New Orleans will host Orlando tomorrow at 7 pm.

LSU Baseball is now on a 4 game losing streak after the Tigers were swept by Arkansas and lost to Southern last night 12 to 7. The game featured 11 hits given up by Tiger pitching and LSU Head Coach Jay Johson says that last night’s pitching was not up to the Purple and Gold standard.

Cut 21 (09) “…. at hard.”

LSU will host Vanderbilt this weekend.

The Ragin Cajuns baseball team now owns the nation’s longest win streak at 11 games after they swept Texas State this weekend. UL-Lafayette got off to a slow start this season after going 9 and 8, but have seemingly found their footing after starting SunBelt play with an 8 and 1 record. The Ragin Cajuns will host Nicholls tonight at 6 pm as they try to improve their win streak to 12 games.

And in more baseball across the state today, Grambling will host Northwestern tonight at 6 pm, Southeastern will host Southern Miss tonight at 6 pm, McNeese will host Alcorn state in a two game midweek series with first pitch tonight at 6 pm, and Louisiana Tech will host Little Rock tonight at 6pm.

 

10:30 LRN Newscast April 2

After losing to the Lady Tigers last year in the national championship game, Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes got the best of the LSU Lady Tigers last night in a rematch. Jeff Palermo has a recap…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

There’s more controversy with the LSU women’s basketball team. It was noted that the Lady Tigers and coaches were not present during the national anthem before the game started. Coach Kim Mulkey says the team has a pre-game routine and she did not know when the anthem would be played. She says it was not intentional.

The Louisiana Gator Scholarship Program bill goes before House Appropriations today. The proposed legislation would give tax dollars directly to families, allowing them to use the money for private school tuition, online learning, and tutoring. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio estimates it will eventually cost $520 million annually.

 Cut 7 (08) “…up too.”

Procopio says lawmakers need to consider a temporary sales tax that will expire in 2025, which is estimated to create a $400 to $500 million fiscal cliff as they consider funding the ESA program.

Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell has filed a bill that would mandate a five-day school week. Mizell says she is listening to opposition to her bill and considering amending the bill. She says one option is to mandate schools provide additional assistance to struggling students on non-class days. The second option…

Cut 12 (10) “…(x2) school week.” 

The bill is scheduled to be heard in Senate Education.

12:30 LRN Newscast April 1

The Louisiana House approves a bill that could result in fines of up to $50,000 on hospitals, public agencies, and other employers for mandating the COVID-19 vaccine. Bill sponsor, Monroe Representative Michael Echols…

Cut 6  (12) “…the bill.” 

Small businesses, defined by the SBA of 500 employees or less, who violate the ban would be fined $10 thousand dollars. Large businesses would face a $50 thousand fine.

LSU Lady Tiger’s coach Kim Mulkey says comments by Los Angeles Times writer Ben Bolch who called the women’s basketball team villains and dirty debutantes, were sexist. LSU guard Hailey Van Lith believes the comments made by the L-A Times reporter were also racist…

Cut  14 (05) “…our team” 

The L-A Times edited the column after it was published saying it did not meet the Times editorial standards.

The Louisiana-based food delivery service ASAP has ceased operations. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

10:30 LRN Newscast April 1

Legislation that would require seafood dealers to pay higher fees for importing foreign catch into the state has passed the House Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support. Bill sponsor, Houma Representative Jessica Domangue…

 Cut 7 (09) “…increase testing.”

The bill would increase the annual flat fee of $100 currently collected from processors and distributors of foreign seafood to 0.1% of their annual gross revenue.

Louisiana could hold its first constitutional convention in half a century. The plan calls for 171 delegates, 144 state lawmakers and Governor Jeff Landry would handpick the other 27 delegates. LaPolictics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says private dollars would pay for the convention.

Cut 6 (12) “…find out.”

New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu proposes the convention begins May 20th and ends July 15th.

Folks across Louisiana and elsewhere will be entertained by a total lunar eclipse Monday, April 8th. LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Dr. Natalie Hinkel says Louisianans can view the eclipse around 12:30, with the best view around 1:45, and it will end by 3:10.She warns you not to look directly at the sun unless you have specialized eyewear, not your average sunglasses.

Cut 11 (12) “…eclipse glasses.”

Mansfield Mayor Thomas Jones says 12-year-old “DJ” Daniel of Houston as an honorary officer last week. Daniel has a rare form of terminal brain and spine cancer. The reason DJ’s father, Theodis Daniel, chose Mansfield is that his family, who had been there since the early 1900s, left after his great-uncle was lynched. Jones says the visit was an emotional and significant one.

Cut 14 (05)  “…to know.”