4:45 LRN Sportscast

Saints quarterback Jameis Winston is back practicing with the teamafter missing the last two weeks with a sprained foot. New Orleans has just one preseason game left and that’s Friday against the Chargers. But Coach Dennis Allen says it’s possible Winston will not see his first game action until the regular season opener against Atlanta…
cut 29 (05) “…few days”

LSU running back John Emery will reportedly miss the first couple of games because of an academic suspension that’s carrying over from last season.

Preseason camp for the Tigers has resulted in the emergency of freshman tight end Mason Taylor, who coach Brian Kelly expects will play a lot this season…
cut 18 (17) “…quite easily”

Quarterback battles have been settled in Ruston and Lafayette. Cajuns Coach Michael Desormeaux is going with Chandler Fields in the season opener against Southeastern Louisiana…
cut 28 (08) “….with Chandler”
Also, U-L Lafayette’s home game against Eastern Michigan on September 10th will be televised by the NFL Network.

Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie announced Matthew Downing as his starting Q-B. Downing beat out Parker McNeil. Coach Cumbie says it was a good battle…
cut 30 (12) “…competed”

And Northwestern State has made a change at offensive coordinator already. Cody Crill has resigned for personal reasons and offensive line coach Beau Blair will take over as the O-C. Blair handled the same duties at New Mexico Highlands last season.

4:30 LRN Newscast August 22

State Representative Larry Selders of Baton Rouge is charged with DWI, reckless operation, and driving under a suspended license. State Police spokesperson Christian Reed says troopers saw him traveling at a high rate of speed near the LSU campus…:

CUT 09(07)      “…doing a burnout.”

The 40-year-old failed a breath test, was arrested and released on bond.

The northern half of the state is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow night. National Weather Service meteorologist Davyon Hill says some areas could get up to 8 inches. He says the rain should provide a nice break from all the heat…:

CUT 05(05)      “…the flooding.”

A Baton Rouge man is under arrest for attempted murder, arson and more after he allegedly set fire to his ex-girlfriend’s home in Hammond, while her kids were asleep inside. The two girls made it out safely, the family dog did not. 38-year-old Danielle Johnson is behind bars

New research on the Indian mounds on LSU’s campus has determined they are the oldest known human-built structures in North America. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Palermo.”

3:30 LRN Newscast August 22

The homicide rate in rural Louisiana is nearly three times the national average. Brooke Thorington has more from a criminologist on what’s fueling the increase and what can be done about it…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Thorington.”

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has some folks angry again. Crime victims are up-in-arms over the mayor showing up in court in support of a juvenile offender during sentencing. That 13-year-old youth robbed at least two people at gunpoint. Critics says Cantrell is tone deaf to constituents’ problems.

 

Northern Louisiana is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow, as a stalled system sit over the I-20 corridor dumping loads of rain. National Weather Service forecaster Davyon Hill says some areas could get as much as 8 inches…:

CUT 04(12)      “…some locations.”

On the positive side, the rains will give a needed break from all this heat.

A Baton Rouge state lawmakers faces DWI & reckless driving charges and more, after he was caught over the weekend…speeding and doing burnout near the LSU campus. Larry Selders failed a blood alcohol breath test. On Jim Engster’s Talk Louisiana radio program, state Senator Cleo Fields was asked about Selders, his personal friend…:

CUT 11(05)      “…years to come.”

In a written statement, Selders said he understands the importance of safe driving and is committed to making better decisions.

2:30 LRN Newscast August 22

The northern half of the state is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow night. National Weather Service meteorologist Davyon Hill says a stalled frontal boundary has set up over the I-20 corridor…:

CUT 03(10)      “…24 to 48 hours.”

Baton Rouge state Representative Larry Selders is charged with DWI, reckless operation and driving under suspension, after he was busted over the weekend speeding and doing burnouts near the LSU campus. State Trooper Christian Reed…:

CUT 10(10)      “…was arrested.”

State Police declined to say why Selders had a suspended license. Selders issued a written statement of apology.

 

New Orleans Policed report two people have been killed and 12 others wounded in 11 separate shootings reported since Friday. The conditions of those wounded victims is not known at this time.

New research has determined the mounds on LSU’s campus near Tiger Stadium are the oldest known man-made structures in North America. LSU Geology and Geophysics Professor emertius Brooks Ellwood says radiocarbon dating of the layers of material indicates the mounds were built 11-thousand years ago. He says one of the mounds is unstable and degrading…:

CUT 14(08)      “…kind of amazing.”

The mounds on LSU’s campus are among the more than 880 man-made, hill-like mounds in Louisiana. Ellwood says they suspect the LSU mounds were a cremation site.

1:30 LRN Newscast Aug 22

Baton Rouge Representative Larry Selders is charged with DWI, reckless operation, and driving under a suspended license. Trooper Christian Reed says officers witnessed Selders doing burnouts near LSU.

Cut 9 (07)  “…doing a burnout.”

Selders took a breath test, was arrested, and released on a summons.  He released a statement saying he takes public safety seriously and is committed to making better decisions.

The CDC and the FBI say the 2020 homicide rate for rural Louisiana was almost three times higher than the national average. LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist, Peter Scharf says it comes down to drugs and the fact that rural law enforcement doesn’t have the capacity to address the issue.

Cut 7 (12) “…overwhelmed.” 

New research has determined the mounds on LSU’s campus near Tiger Stadium are the oldest known manmade structures in North America. LSU Geology and Geophysics Professor Emeritus Brooks Ellwood says the age estimate is based on studying sediment from the bottom of the mounds which is ash from burned reed and cane plants as well as charred mammal bone fragments…

Cut 13 (10) “.    these mounds’ 

 

Several Calcasieu Parish School buildings are still under repair from Hurricane Laura—which struck southwest Louisiana as a category four storm two years ago. Schools superintendent Shannon Lafargue says the school system has maxed out its insurance and really needs FEMA’s help.

Cut 14 (10)  “…week to week”

 

12:30 LRN Newscast

According to a report in the Advocate, homicides in rural Louisiana are surging. The CDC and the FBI data indicate the homicide rate for rural Louisiana in 2020 was just under 17 per 100 thousand people. Almost three times higher than the national average. LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist, Peter Scharf says it comes down to drugs.
Cut 6 (07) “…kill each other .”
Scharf says the loss of jobs in rural areas has many turning to drugs as a form of recreation.

New research has determined the mounds on LSU’s campus near Tiger Stadium are the oldest known man made structures in North America. LSU Geology and Geophysics Professor Emertius Brooks Ellwood says radiocarbon dating of the layers of material indicates the mounds were built 11-thousand years ago…
cut 12 (12) “…gets younger”
The mounds on LSU’s campus are among the more than 880 man-made, hill-like mounds in Louisiana.

Louisiana’s unemployment rate fell for a second straight month in July, to its lowest level ever. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Heavy rainfall is falling across north Louisiana today and in fact the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for the upper half of the state through Tuesday night. Meteorologist Davyon Hill says the rainfall will give north Louisiana a break from what has been a hot and relatively dry summer…
Cut 5 (05) “…the flooding”
If you are in the Monroe area, be prepared for some heavy rainfall.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU running back John Emery is looking at a two-game suspension to start the season. That’s according to a report by the Athletic. Emery was suspended for the entire 2021 campaign because of academic issues and this suspension is reportedly a carry-over from last season. Emery has been running with the second team in practice. Penn State transfer Noah Cain and sophomore Armoni Goodwin have been getting first-team reps. Coach Brian Kelly says the running backs room lacks a player like Leonard Fournette, but it’s still a solid group
Cut 17 (18) “…at that position”
The restaurant chain, Hooters, announces it has signed LSU offensive linemen to NIL deals. They will join other O-Line units from other schools to promote the Hooters brand through various marketing activities.

The Ragin Cajuns and Louisiana Tech have both made decisions on their starting quarterbacks. The Ragin Cajuns are reportedly going with Chandler Fields, who beat out Fresno State transfer Ben Wooldridge. Fields is from Metairie and the former Rummel standout has been at U-L since 2019.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports Louisiana Tech plans to start TCU transfer Matthew Downing at Q-B when the Bulldogs open the season at Missouri. Downing played for head coach Sonny Cumbie in 2020, when Cumbie was the offensive coordinator for the Horned Frogs.

The Saints have one more preseason game to go and it’s this Friday at home against the Chargers. Mostly back-ups played in last Friday’s 20-10 loss to Green Bay. Rookie left tackle Trevor Penning looked more comfortable against the Packers compared to how he played in the preseason opener…
Cut 19 (19) “…was good”

11:30 LRN Newscast Aug 22

An investigation determines hospital staff contacted the Department of Children and Family Services three times about potential substance abuse involving a two-year-old child, before he died of a fentanyl overdose. Kevin Gallagher reports…

Cut 2 (32) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher” 

 

A Baton Rouge Representative Larry Selders faces DWI charges after troopers saw him doing burnouts in his Dodge Challenger near LSU early Sunday morning. He was also charged with Reckless Operation and Driving Under Suspension.

The northern half of the state is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow night. National Weather Service meteorologist Davyon Hill says a stalled frontal boundary has set up over the I-20 corridor and four to six inches is likely across the area, but there’s the potential for as much as eight inches for some areas.

Cut 4  (12) “…some locations.”

Several Calcasieu Parish School buildings are still under repair from Hurricane Laura—which struck southwest Louisiana two years ago. One of the strongest storms to ever make landfall in Louisiana did at least 400 million dollars’ worth of damage to the schools alone. But Schools superintendent Shannon LaFargue says they’ve made a lot of progress.

Cut 13 (08) “…sense of normalcy.”

 

10:30 LRN Newscast Aug 22

The state Department of Children and Family Services announces policy changes as a result of an overdose death of a two-year-old child. D-C-F-S admits they were contacted three times by hospital staff about substance abuse involving the child, but because of a variety of reasons they failed to have a case worker inspect the home. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says that will never happen again…

Cut 8 (08)  “…priority response.”

For a second straight month, Louisiana set a record-low unemployment rate in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says the seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment is 3.6-percent. She says, coincidentally, the EMPLOYMENT rate is also looking good…:

Cut 4 (11)  “…is high as well.”

U.L. Lafayette is now ranked among the nation’s top 100 public research universities. The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) annual Higher Education Research & Development Survey (HERD) ranks ULL 94th among 655 colleges that do research. ULL’s Vice President for Research & Innovation Dr. Ramesh Kolluru (ko-LOO-roo) says it’s an important distinction for a Louisiana university…:

Cut 10 (09) “…in the top 100.”

Several Calcasieu Parish School buildings are still under repair from Hurricane Laura—which struck southwest Louisiana as a category four storm two years ago. Schools superintendent Shannon LaFargue says the school system has maxed out its insurance and really needs FEMA’s help.

Cut 14 (10)  “…week to week”

 

9:30 LRN Newscast

An investigation determines hospital staff contacted the Department of Children and Family Services three times about potential substance abuse involving a two-year-old child before he died of a fentanyl overdose. Kevin Gallagher reports…
Cut 2 (32) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Baton Rouge Representative Larry Selders was arrested over the weekend on D-W-I and reckless operation charges. State Police says Troopers observed the 40-year-old state lawmaker traveling at a high rate of speed while producing a burnout with his vehicle near the LSU campus early Sunday morning.

The state’s unemployment rate for July is the lowest on record at 3-point-six percent, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. And the number of people employed is the second highest. L-W-C Secretary Ava Cates says they hope the state’s new Tech Ready Louisiana program will produce even more jobs…
cut 5 (10) “…..essential skills”
Nearly one-thousand Louisiana residents have already signed up for Tech Ready.

The northern half of the state is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow night. National Weather Service meteorologist Davyon Hill says a stalled frontal boundary has set up over the I-20 corridor…
cut 3 (10) “…48 hours”
Hill says four to six inches is likely across the area, but there’s the potential for as much as eight inches for some areas.