LRN AM Newscall August 14

The Ochsner Transplant Institute performed its ten-thousandth organ transplant, becoming the only transplant center in Louisiana to reach the milestone. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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LSU sophomore cornerback D.J. Pickett will not be changing his number five amidst a controversy with Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Restaurants – especially those which specialize in salads – are going the extra mile to ensure their produce is safe amid the cyclospora outbreak. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Ochsner Transplant Institute completed its ten-thousandth organ transplant dating back to the Gulf South’s first heart transplant in 1970. That milestone puts the institute among the top 40 transplant centers in the country; and Institute Director Dr. Ari Cohen says it is a deeply personal vocation.

Cut 4 (11) “…with us lifelong.”

Cohen says the transplant program has grown exponentially in recent years, striving to stay on the cutting edge with robotic-assisted kidney transplants and pediatric heart and living-donor lung transplants. He says there are still over 100-thousand people across the country and two-thousand Louisianians waiting for a life-saving transplant.

Cut 5 (11) “…alive and well.”

Cohen says becoming an organ donor is a selfless act that can help save a life.

Cut 6 (13) “…supposed to live.”

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LSU cornerback D.J. Pickett does not have any intention of changing his number-five jersey despite backlash from former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who last wore the number. The Advocate’s Koki Riley spoke with Pickett’s father and says if anyone is backing down, it will be the Daniels camp.

Cut 7 (12) “…this whole thing.”

Pickett became the first Tiger to wear the number of a previous LSU Heisman-winner when he switched his number from three to five last week. Riley says LSU promised he could have the number when he asked all of the schools recruiting him if it was available. Riley says number five has become a standard for Pickett and his ten siblings since his oldest brother Jaylen wore it at Eastern Michigan.

Cut 8 (12) “…point of pride.”

Riley says the number is important to Pickett, but he still stuck around through a season at LSU and a coaching change while wearing number three. He says the Pickett family has appreciated Lane Kiffin’s willingness to stick by them and honor LSU’s promise but is upset by the situation it has left the sophomore in.

Cut 9 (08)  “…the first place.”

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Amid the cyclospora outbreak, restaurants – especially those which specialize in salads – are going the extra mile to reassure diners that the produce they serve is safe. Scott Henderson, the co-founder and CEO of Lafayette-based Salad Station, says whereas the lettuce responsible for the outbreak was imported from Mexico, his company’s lettuce is not imported from any foreign country.

Cut 10 (08) “…is always domestic.”

Henderson says the company has been in close contact with all of its suppliers throughout the entire ordeal.

Cut 11 (09) “…tracing it back.”

Henderson also notes that none of the lettuce or any of the other ingredients arrive at the stores pre-cut – everything is cut in the open, in clear view of the customers. He says despite heightened communication with customers, sales have been down since the outbreak started, and he’s afraid of another consequence.

Cut 12 (07) “…impacts on health.”

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Louisiana is losing film industry jobs at an alarming rate. Citing numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a new report from Giggster says Louisiana had the highest percentage of decline in film industry jobs since 2024 at more than 32-percent, and it had the fourth most total job losses from 2024 to 2025. IATSE (eye-AT-zee) Local 478 Business Agent Simonette Berry says Louisiana is in danger of losing a good chunk of what it had worked hard to build up in recent years.

Cut 13 (13)  “…infrastructure already here.”

Berry says with many countries offering aggressive tax incentives, Louisiana is not just competing with California and Georgia anymore.

Cut 14 (09) “…60-percent incentive.”

Berry says in order to remain competitive in the film arena, Louisiana needs to do what it can to keep pace with the tax credits that other states and other countries are offering to lure these jobs away.

Cut 15 (09) “…years in advance.”

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LSU coach Lane Kiffin says his team still has not started tackling, but he’s liked what he’s seen so far during fall camp.

Cut 16 (10) “…and playing physical.”

The Tigers hold their first scrimmage of preseason practice tomorrow. The team put on full pads for the first time this week, and Kiffin says there is a lot more work to be done.

Kiffin and coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. are known for their aggressive play calling, especially on fourth down. Kiffin says his teams have led the trend of going for it on fourth down more often, and they’re starting to see that replicated across the country.

Cut 17 (19) “…time to change.”

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LSU left tackle Jordan Seaton was a five-star addition out of the transfer portal this offseason. He has gotten a lot of practice reps against two more top transfer additions — edge rushers Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross. He says they compliment each other well.

Cut 18 (13) “..honest every day.”

The Tigers ranked bottom in the SEC in both rushing yards and touchdowns last season. Seaton says changing that is a top priority.

Cut 19 (14) “…on my stance.”

Coach Lane Kiffin’s 2025 Ole Miss team led the league in rushing touchdowns and was second in total rushing yards.

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The Saints kick off their preseason versus the Jaguars tomorrow. Former LSU receiver Barion Brown has been one of the stars of training camp, and he’ll play a big role as both a pass catcher and returner with the starters out tomorrow. Receiver Chris Olave says Brown reminds him a lot of former Saint Rashid Shaheed.

Cut 20 (13) “…and his future.”

Kickoff in the Superdome is at three p.m.