10:30 LRN Newscast

Tiger Rag magazine executive editor Todd Horne is among a trio of Baton Rouge reporters who are suing LSU for refusing to disclose records of public money it’s paying to student athletes. Their attorney, Scott Sternberg, says they want to know how much public money is going to the student athletes – and, specifically, how much to which ones.

Cut 11 (10) “…do they get?”

The owner of Tiger Rag also owns Louisiana Radio Network.

Since the start of 2025, almost 40 insurance companies have filed for rate decreases for private passenger auto policies. Commissioner Tim Temple says customers of the companies that have filed for rate decreases will see the savings when their policy comes up for renewal, and if their rates don’t drop…

Cut 5 (07) “…my auto insurance”

The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy is working with the U.S. Geological Survey to try to find a cause for all the earthquakes in northwest Louisiana. Joe Gallinaro reports. 

Cut 1 (26) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

The Savannah Bananas bring their brand of baseball to the Superdome this weekend! The Superdome is not exactly set up for baseball. But Jay Cicero, the CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says when they started playing in football stadiums, the idea was born.

Cut 15 (09) “…right field porch.”

9:30 LRN Newscast

Tiger Rag magazine executive editor Todd Horne is among a trio of Baton Rouge reporters who are suing LSU for refusing to disclose records of public money it’s paying to student athletes. Their lawyer, Scott Sternberg, makes it clear that this lawsuit is only about public money.

Cut 12 (05) “…to see that (2x).”

Tiger Rag and LRN share the same owner. Piper Hutchinson of Louisiana Illuminator and Chris Nakamoto of WAFB-TV are the other two plaintiffs.

The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy is working with the U.S. Geological Survey to figure out why there’s been a sudden spike in earthquake activity in northwest Louisiana. Department spokesman Patrick Courreges (kuh-RAHZH) says wastewater injection may be to blame; and while nothing unusual has been found yet, agents are still looking.

Cut 9 (11)  “…find a cause.”

Since the start of last year, nearly 40 insurance companies have filed rate decreases for private passenger auto policies. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the latest company to do so is Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, who filed a six-percent decrease on its Value Product.

Cut 4 (06) “…that’s a positive.”

The Savannah Bananas baseball team invades the Superdome this weekend! There will be a two-hour game with the fan-focused event tomorrow and Sunday. Jay Cicero, the CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says tickets are by lottery, and New Orleans locals who have found it impossible to get tickets in other cities are happy to find them here.

Cut 14 (13) “…to watch them.”

LRN AM Newscall March 13

The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy is working with the U.S. Geological Survey to try to find a cause for all the earthquakes in northwest Louisiana. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 1 (26) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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***NOTE: The owner of Tiger Rag magazine also owns Louisiana Radio Network.***

Three reporters, including the executive editor for Tiger Rag magazine, the owner of which also owns Louisiana Radio Network, are suing LSU for withholding records of payments to athletes. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Savannah Bananas are bringing their special brand of baseball to the Caesars Superdome this weekend. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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More good news about auto insurance rates — since the start of last year, nearly 40 companies have filed rate decreases for private passenger auto policies. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the latest company to do so is Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, which filed a six-percent decrease on its Value Product.

Cut 4 (05) “…that’s a positive”

IFAC also filed for a three-percent decrease on its Mid-Market Product.

Temple says Allstate North American Insurance Company is also decreasing rates by seven and a half percent on average, which affects more than 17-thousand policies.

The commissioner says customers of the companies that have filed for rate decreases will see the savings when their policy comes up for renewal, and if your rates don’t drop…

Cut 5 (07) “…my auto insurance”

Temple says a fewer number of accidents, which means fewer claims, is driving the decrease in auto insurance rates. He says the reforms approved last year that change how auto crashes are handled in civil court have yet to have an impact on rates.

Cut 6 (12) “…them to do.”

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The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy is working with the U.S. Geological Survey to get to the bottom of why there’s been a sudden spike in earthquake activity in northwest Louisiana. It was spurred by a magnitude 4.9 quake last week; and since then, there have been a series of other quakes, including four within a ten-minute span early Monday morning. Department spokesman Patrick Courreges (kuh-RAHZH) says one potential cause is what’s called induced seismicity.

Cut 7 (11) “…or faults underground.”

Courreges says as such, C-and-E teams are looking at operations in the area, and they’ve actually been there since December, when the quakes began.

Cut 8 (09) “…supposed to be.”

Courreges says while nothing has turned up yet, seismic staff and field agents are still looking.

Cut 9 (11)  “…find a cause.”

________________________________________________________

***NOTE: The owner of Tiger Rag magazine also owns Louisiana Radio Network.***

Tiger Rag magazine executive editor Todd Horne is among a trio of Baton Rouge reporters who are suing LSU for refusing to disclose records of public money it’s paying to student athletes. Piper Hutchinson of Louisiana Illuminator and Chris Nakamoto of WAFB-TV are the other two. They’re being represented by Scott Sternberg, who says while the game may have changed, the law has stayed the same.

Cut 10 (13) “…are being spent.”

The owner of Tiger Rag magazine also owns Louisiana Radio Network.

Sternberg says Horne, Hutchinson and Nakamoto want to know how much public money is going to the student athletes – and, specifically, how much to which ones.

Cut 11 (10) “…do they get?”

Sternberg says other schools in Louisiana are being just as evasive with this information as LSU, and this is likely happening at other schools across the country. He makes it clear that this lawsuit is only about public money.

Cut 12 (05) “…to see that (2x).”

LSU claims those records are exempt from public disclosure due to federal student privacy law and a state law that exempts NIL agreements from disclosure. In a statement saying it has yet to be served, the university says disclosing the information would put it at a competitive disadvantage.

___________________________________________________________

The Savannah Bananas are bringing their special brand of baseball to the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans this weekend. Jay Cicero, the CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says it’s more of a fan focused event for fun — and there’s a game.

Cut 13 (11)  “…it’s pretty special.”

There will be a two-hour game with the fan-focused event tomorrow and Sunday. Cicero says tickets are by lottery, and New Orleans locals who have found it impossible to get tickets in other cities are happy to find them here.

Cut 14 (13) “…to watch them.”

Over 60-thousand fans are expected for each event.

The Superdome is not exactly set up for baseball. But the interest in the Savannah Bananas, both by the organization and the fans, is there; so when the Bananas started playing in football stadiums, beginning with Clemson’s, the idea to bring them to the Superdome was born, and the plans were made to make the dome work as a venue.

Cut 15 (09) “…right field porch.”

_____________________________________________________________

The Saints feel really good about the additions they’ve made to their team this week. The headliner is former Jacksonville Jaguars running back and Jennings native Travis Etienne. Coach Kellen Moore says the 27-year-old is coming off his third one-thousand-yard rushing season, and he also caught a career-high six touchdown passes.

Cut 16 (16) “…him back here.”

The Saints also signed veteran left guard David Edwards. Edwards spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Rams and his last three seasons with the Bills. He watched some film on New Orleans while scouting another team late last season, and what he saw caught his eye.

Cut 17 (19)  “…feel really good.”

The Saints have also brought back 30-year-old linebacker Kaden Elliss on a three-year deal. Elliss has led the Falcons in tackles the last two seasons, and he was a team captain. In 2022 with the Saints, Elliss had a career-high seven sacks. Coach Kellen Moore says it’s hard for offensive coaches to game-plan against Elliss.

Cut 18 (20)  “…really good situation.”

_______________________________________________________

LSU baseball begins SEC play tonight against Vanderbilt. The Tigers are ranked 13th in the SEC in hitting with a team .291 batting average. Former LSU star and SEC Network college baseball analyst Todd Walker believes the Tigers are a better hitting team then they’ve shown.

Cut 19 (15) “…start falling around.”

Vanderbilt is 10-and-7, and their team ERA is 3.94, which is third worst in the SEC. Walker says their best pitcher is Connor Fennell.

Cut 20 (09) “…type of thing.”

 

5:30 LRN Newscast/Legislative Report

The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office’s legislative package for 2026 focuses on election security. House Bill 691 by Beau Beaullieu would check the state’s voter rolls against the SAVE program to identify potential non-citizens. Secretary Nancy Landry says a recent check of the state’s voter rolls turned up non-citizens who had cast ballots.

Cut 10 (10) “…an eligible voter.”

House Bill 547 by Polly Thomas would prohibit taking pictures of voter registration information in precinct registers. Landry says this is to protect those who haven’t voted yet from intimidation.

Cut 11 (11) “…who had voted.”

Small business owners have a laundry list of issues they’d like to see lawmakers tackle this session. Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says navigating Louisiana’s complex taxation system continues to be a minefield for small business owners, and she says that can be alleviated by the legislature implementing a centralized sales tax.

Cut 9 (09)  “…remit sales tax.”

More good news about auto insurance rates. Since the start of last year, nearly 40 companies have filed rate decreases for private passenger auto policies. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the latest company to do so is Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, who filed a six-percent decrease on its Value Product.

Cut 4 (06) “…that’s a positive.”

12:30 LRN Newscast

The National Weather Service says as many as six tornadoes ripped through southeast Louisiana last night, impacting St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Tammany parishes. A suspected tornado knocked down trees and power lines in areas around Roseland, Fluker and Kentwood. But Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says there are no deaths or major property damage.

Cut 12 (08) “…were damaged.”

The commissioner of agriculture and forestry is urging the federal government to allow guest workers back into the country to peel crawfish. Mike Strain says these guest workers have been doing the work for upwards of 18 dollars an hour; and it’s work that Americans will not do, to the chagrin of crawfish farmers.

Cut 10 (09) “…these workers in.”

The McNeese men’s basketball team is going dancing for a third straight year. Joe Gallinaro has the story.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Two of the 70 birds seized in a cockfight in St. Landry Parish have been stolen from the parish’s animal control facility. This was the cockfight that was raided last weekend near Opelousas, in which more than 60 people were arrested, and guns and drugs were also seized.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Crude oil prices have surpassed 90-dollars a barrel, and Triple-A says the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has reached $3.23. The International Energy Agency is releasing 400-million barrels of oil from strategic reserves, but LSU Center for Energy Studies director Greg Upton says that will not help with gas prices, instead it will ease short-term supply disruption…

Cut 6 (11) “…short run.”

The commissioner of agriculture and forestry is sounding the alarm over the lack of crawfish peelers in the state. Mike Strain says this is because the Department of Homeland Security has stopped processing H-2B applications for skilled guest workers, preventing them from coming back. 

Cut 9 (07)  “…skilled guest workers.”

McNeese men’s basketball is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row. This, after beating Stephen F. Austin, 76-59, to win the Southland Conference title. Senior guard Javohn Garcia, who erupted for a career-high 31 points in the win, says the Cowboys were not going to let the Lumberjacks end their 27-game winning streak at home.

Cut 4 (10) “…came out victors.”

Cut 25 (04) “…Alligator!”

Obviously, “alligator” has more than three letters, but there are now more than three-million alligators in Louisiana. As such, the Senate Natural Resources Committee approved a bill to create a recreational alligator hunting season. Wildlife and Fisheries General Counsel Garrett Cole says if there is one, interested recreational hunters would be chosen through a lottery.

Cut 11 (10) “…the secretary said.”

10:30 LRN Newscast

Small business owners have a laundry list of issues they’d like to see lawmakers tackle this session. Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says navigating Louisiana’s complex taxation system continues to be a minefield for small business owners, and she says that can be alleviated by the legislature implementing a centralized sales tax.

Cut 9 (09)  “…remit sales tax.”

A lawmaker wants to give voters the final say on a minimum wage increase. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow’s proposed constitutional amendment would set Louisiana’s minimum wage to $10.25 an hour, and it would task a state agency to adjust it annually based on the consumer price index. Barrow says too many people in Louisiana still make minimum wage.

Cut 14 (07) “…$7.25 an hour.”

Two men are cited for allegedly shooting and killing a whooping crane in Evangeline Parish last month. Wildlife and Fisheries Corporal Tib Guillory says 36-year-old Logan Thrasher of St. Landry and 33-year-old Manuel Luis of Mexico face up to 120 days in jail and a 950-dollar fine, along with restitution.

Cut 6 (03) “…15-thousand dollars.”

Guillory says Thrasher and Luis were working on a farm where agents located the dead crane. Whooping cranes are an endangered species and, thus, are federally protected.

For the third year in a row, the McNeese Cowboys are going dancing. McNeese beat Stephen F. Austin yesterday, 76-59, to win their third straight Southland Conference title. Senior guard DJ Richards says earning their way back into the NCAA Tournament is an accomplishment no one can take away from them.

Cut 5 (09) “…hard to do.”

9:30 LRN Newscast

A lawmaker wants to give voters the final say on a minimum wage increase. Louisiana is one of 20 states in which the minimum wage aligns with the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, which has not changed since July of 2009. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says that’s just untenable.

Cut 13 (07)  “…a decent life.”

Barrow’s proposed constitutional amendment would raise the minimum wage to $10.25 an hour, with annual increases in line with the consumer price index.

Small businesses in Louisiana are keeping a keen eye on Baton Rouge as the legislative session gets underway. Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says one issue facing many small business owners is the quality of labor, and that’s something that she’d like the legislature to address.

Cut 7 (10) “…go to work.”

Legislation that would allow the Louisiana Wildlife Commission to establish a recreational alligator season has received approval from the Senate Natural Resources Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A National Guard member is arrested for accidentally shooting and injuring a fellow guardsman. New Orleans Police say 18-year-old Lindz Nagin was handling a gun when it accidentally went off, hitting the victim in the chest. The victim is in stable condition. Nagin is free on five-thousand dollars bond.

LRN AM Newscall March 12

Small business owners are keeping a keen eye on Baton Rouge now that the legislative session is underway. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Legislation that would allow the Louisiana Wildlife Commission to establish a recreational alligator season has received approval from the Senate Natural Resources Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

One lawmaker wants to let voters have the final say on the minimum wage. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

______________________________________________

Two men are cited for allegedly shooting and killing a whooping crane in Evangeline Parish last month. LDWF agents cited 36-year-old Logan Thrasher of St. Landry and 33-year-old Manuel Luis of Mexico for violating the migratory bird treaty act in killing the bird. Wildlife and Fisheries Corporal Tib Guillory says whooping cranes are federally protected.

Cut 4 (06) “…lot of them”

Guillory says as such, whooping crane biologists place GPS collars on as many of them as they can so that they can alert certain people that the birds are near them and they should be left alone.

Cut 5 (10) “…check on them.”

LDWF agents were led to Thrasher and Luis because they were working on the farm where the whooping crane was found shot to death and on the day when he stopped sending data. Guillory says the two men face up to 120 days in jail and a 950-dollar fine, along with restitution.

Cut 6 (03) “…15-thousand dollars.”

____________________________________________________

Small businesses in Louisiana are keeping a keen eye on Baton Rouge as the legislative session gets underway. Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says one issue facing many small business owners is the quality of labor, and that’s something that she’d like the legislature to address.

Cut 7 (10) “…go to work.”

Concerns over labor quality caused a slight drop in the monthly Small Business Optimism Index, but that was tempered somewhat by strong sales and profit figures that are causing them to feel more certain in the coming months. Long says the legislature made great strides last year, and she wants to see that momentum continue.

Cut 8 (08) “…workforce in Louisiana.”

Long says navigating Louisiana’s complex taxation system continues to be a minefield for small business owners, and she says that can be alleviated by the legislature implementing a centralized sales tax.

Cut 9 (09)  “…remit sales tax.”

________________________________________________________

Louisiana could soon have a recreational alligator hunting season. There’s a commercial alligator hunting season, but Franklin Senator Robert Allain says with the number of alligators increasing in the state, he would like to open alligator hunting to recreational hunters.

Cut 10 (09) “…to hunt alligators.”

About 50 years ago, the state’s alligator population was below 100-thousand; but thanks to conservation efforts, there are now more than three-million gators in the state, with about two-million in the wild. Wildlife and Fisheries General Counsel Garrett Cole says interested recreational hunters would be chosen through a lottery.

Cut 11 (10) “…the secretary said.”

The recreational hunters would not be allowed to shoot alligators; it would be hook and line harvesting from land. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says they want to provide this recreational opportunity for the common folk of Louisiana.

Cut 12 (08) “…want to experience.”

The Senate Natural Resources Committee approved the bill to create a recreational alligator hunting season. It now heads to the Senate floor for more discussion. It would be the Louisiana Wildlife Commission that would set up the official rules and regulations.

___________________________________________________________

A lawmaker wants to give voters the final say on a minimum wage increase. Louisiana is one of 20 states in which the minimum wage aligns with the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, which has not changed since July of 2009. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says that’s just untenable.

Cut 13 (07)  “…a decent life.”

That’s why Barrow is proposing a constitutional amendment not only to increase the minimum wage immediately, but also to make sure it keeps up with inflation. Barrow’s proposal would set Louisiana’s minimum wage to $10.25 an hour, and it would task a state agency to adjust it annually based on the consumer price index. Barrow says too many people in Louisiana still make minimum wage.

Cut 14 (07) “…$7.25 an hour.”

This is by no means the first time someone has proposed an increase to the state’s minimum wage. In all previous attempts, business groups have pushed back, saying raising the minimum wage would lead to higher consumer prices and fewer jobs. Barrow says business owners she’s spoken to disagree with that notion.

Cut 15 (12) “…with your employees.”

Since this is a proposed constitutional amendment, it will require a two-thirds majority in both houses before it goes to the voters.

_____________________________________________________________

The number-13 LSU baseball team ended its two-game losing streak Tuesday with an 8-4 win over Creighton. The Tigers also appeared to shake off their hitting slump, recording nine hits, including two home runs. Junior outfielder Jake Brown said the team held a players-only meeting before the game to address the struggles.

Cut 16 (12) “…next to you.”

Brown hit his ninth home run in Tuesday’s win and leads the Tigers in home runs, batting average, RBI and stolen bases. He credits his offseason work to helping him get off to a fast start this season.

Cut 17 (11)  “…perform so far.”

After missing the last 15 games with a hand injury, LSU senior outfielder Chris Stanfield made his return to the lineup. Coach Jay Johnson says having Stanfield in the lineup makes the Tigers better.

Cut 18 (15)  “…to be made.”

Johnson says whether or not Stanfield will start this weekend is still up in the air.

_______________________________________________________

The LSU men’s basketball season ended Wednesday with an 87-82 loss to ninth-seeded Kentucky in the opening round of the SEC Tournament. The Tigers finished 15-and-17, marking the second consecutive and third overall losing season under head coach Matt McMahon in his four years in Baton Rouge. McMahon acknowledged the criticism surrounding the program.

Cut 19 (18) “…make moving forward.”

 

2:30 LRN Newscast

Much of southwest and central Louisiana is under a tornado watch. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says a storm system is making its way east from Texas.

Cut 6 (11) “…into the night.”

Cities in the watch area include Lake Charles, Alexandria, Natchitoches and Monroe.

Senator Bill Cassidy recently held a roundtable discussion on legislation to regulate NIL deals in college sports. Former Auburn football coach and current Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville was part of it; he says he supports student-athletes getting paid, but he believes President Trump should issue an executive order to put some restrictions in place right away.

Cut 14 (11) “…more money.”

A Senate committee approves legislation that makes disruptive protests at or near churches a crime. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

If you’d like to see the original Louisiana Purchase document, you will get your chance next month. The document that doubled the size of the United States at the outset of the 19th century will be on display at the old State Capitol in Baton Rouge starting April 14th. Governor Landry made the announcement in his State of the State address on Monday.