Longtime PA Announcer at Tiger Stadium Dan Borne is taking a temporary leave of absence for health reasons and Bill Franques will step in as the interim PA announcer.  Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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A Baton Rouge retiree got a very pleasant surprise yesterday. Andrew Greenstein has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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PETA has a strongly-worded response to Governor Landry’s request for Mike The Tiger to make his return to Death Valley. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Dan Borne, the longtime public address announcer for LSU’s Tiger Stadium, is taking a temporary leave of absence for health reasons. Borne, who has been the voice of Tiger Stadium for nearly four decades, is widely recognized for his iconic “Saturday Night in Death Valley” introductions, which have become a beloved tradition for LSU fans. During Borne’s leave, Bill Franques will step in as the interim PA announcer.

Cut 4 (06) “…tremendous legacy.”

Franques, is no stranger to LSU athletics, has been the public voice of LSU baseball for over 30 years, and is well-versed in the energy and atmosphere of LSU sports events. His experience and familiarity with the university’s sports culture make him the right choice to fill in for Borne.

Cut 5 (11) “…uphold that standard.”

Borne’s temporary departure has stirred emotions among LSU fans, who hold his voice as an integral part of their game-day experience. However, Franques’ appointment provides continuity, ensuring that the tradition of engaging, professional announcements at Tiger Stadium will continue.

Cut 6 (11) …four decades.”

There is no official timeline for Borne’s return, but fans and colleagues alike hope to hear his voice back in the stadium soon.

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A retiree from Baton Rouge got quite the pleasant surprise yesterday – a check for more than 13-thousand dollars. State Treasurer John Fleming presented a check for $13,439.91 to Lawrence L’herisson (“Larson”) following a meeting of the St. George Rotary Club.

Cut 7 (06) “…this often happens.”

Fleming says the Unclaimed Property Program has more than 900-million dollars in unclaimed property; and for large sums like L’herisson’s, his office will go to great lengths to track down the rightful owner.

Cut 8 (09) “…or their heir.”

L’herisson is very thankful for the efforts of Fleming and his office.

Cut 9 (09)  “…would have done.”

L’herisson says he plans on using a portion of that money to restore his Ford Model A. Beyond that, he hasn’t decided.

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People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issues a strongly-worded letter to Governor Landry following his request that LSU bring back its live mascot, Mike The Tiger, to Death Valley. LSU officially ended its long-standing tradition in 2017, and Klayton Rutherford with the PETA Foundation says that was the right move.

Cut 10 (10) “…frankly absurd plan.”

Rutherford says tigers are normally solitary animals; and as such, they’re naturally uncomfortable with many aspects of the pregame hype like lights and fireworks.

Cut 11 (09) “…ideas to himself.”

Rutherford says stadiums are no place for tigers – or any exotic animals, for that matter.

Cut 12 (08) “…shun human contact.”

LSU has already responded to Governor Landry, saying it has no plans to bring Mike The Tiger back to Death Valley anytime soon.

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A traffic stop in Jefferson Davis Parish leads to a huge drug bust. As Jennings Police pulled over a vehicle, a passenger threw narcotics at the driver’s head and left the vehicle. He was arrested and booked into jail. Police Chief Danny Semmes (“Sims”) says the investigation then led officers to a convenience store with a poker room inside, and officers eventually found Robert Moore there.

Cut 13 (09)  “…found on him.”

One officer who Moore fought with had to be taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Chief Semmes says Moore was a regular customer of the convenience store.

Cut 14 (07) “…that poker room.”

And Semmes says Moore had a boatload of drugs, including about 55-thousand lethal doses of fentanyl.

Cut 15 (11) “…in his pants.”

Semmes says the investigation took about a month to finish.

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LSU has lost running back John Emery to a season-ending ACL injury, but cornerback Zy Alexander will likely make his return from an ACL injury he suffered last October when the Tigers host Nicholls on Saturday night. Coach Brian Kelly says they plan to ease Alexander in

Cut  16 (16)   “…corner position.”

Starting safety Jardin Gilbert will miss the first half of Saturday night’s game because of a targeting penalty against him on Sunday. Kelly says he’s preparing to get freshman Dashawn Spears and redshirt freshman Kylin Jackson on the field more this Saturday…

Cut 17 (15) “…as well.”

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ULM won its season opener for Jackson State, but the oddsmakers do not have the Warhawks winning a second straight game this Saturday at home against UAB. Warhawks Coach Bryant Vincent says they’ve accepted the underdog role…

Cut 18 (20)  “…Saturday night.”

Eleven-thousand fans were at the game last Thursday against Jackson State. Vincent wants a much larger crowd for this Saturday night’s home game against the Blazers…

Cut 19 (14) “….ready to play” 

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The Saints are preparing for Sunday’s season opener against the Carolina Panthers. Even though Carolina is a divisional opponent, there is a bit of an unknown about the Panthers since they have a new head coach in Dave Canales. Canales was previously the Buccaneers offensive coordinator. Allen says in-game adjustments will be a key on Sunday…

Cut 20 (17) “…when we need to.”

Kick off on Sunday is at noon.

It’s proving to be a wet day for most of Louisiana today. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the heavy rains could wreak some havoc but the state actually needs rain.

Cut 8 (06)  “…moderate drought.”

The heavy rains are expected to continue through Friday; in fact, the southern third of the state is under a flash flood watch through that day.

Governor Landry is urging LSU to bring out its live mascot, Mike The Tiger, to football games. Piper Hutchinson broke the story for the Louisiana Illuminator. She says having Mike The Tiger in a cage on the football field was a tradition that was halted in 2017.

Cut 9 (12)  “…him very uncomfortable.”

LSU says it has no plans to alter its current protocol with Mike The Tiger.

An updated version of GOHSEP’s “Get a Game Plan” app has been released to improve disaster preparedness for Louisiana residents.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

LSU’s leading rusher in Sunday’s loss to USC reportedly tore his ACL in practice yesterday and is out for the season. John Emery rushed for 61 yards in his first game back since tearing his ACL in his right knee last November. Emery’s injury leaves LSU with just three scholarship running backs on the roster.

After urging LSU and other schools to revoke scholarships for athletes who skip out on the national anthem, Governor Landry is urging LSU to bring out its live mascot, Mike The Tiger, to football games. Piper Hutchinson broke the story for the Louisiana Illuminator. She says this will likely not be the last time that Landry involves himself in LSU athletics matters.

Cut 11 (15) “…the team’s business.”

Citing the well-being of exotic animals, LSU says it has no plans to bring Mike The Tiger onto the field anytime soon.

GOHSEP has released an updated version of its “Get A Game Plan” app. Mike Steele with GOHSEP encourages all residents to download and familiarize themselves with the app, ensuring that they are better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies.

Cut 5 (07) “…process can become.”

Download the app on the App Store and Google Play store

Most of the state dealt with heavy rains today with the southern third of Louisiana under a flash flood watch through Friday.  LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim urges residents to be mindful and cautious.

Cut 6 (12) “…certainly there.”

Keim says the heavy rains are expected to continue through Friday for most of the state. He says while the heavy rains could wreak some havoc, the state actually needs it.

A Franklin Parish man is killed in a head-on crash. Louisiana State Police Troopers say 20-year-old Ethan Cottingham of Winnsboro was driving his pickup truck eastbound on Highway 130 when a dump truck being driven by 69-year-old James Fowler veered into his lane and hit him head-on. Cottingham was not wearing a seatbelt; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Intoxication is not believed to be a factor.

It’s proving to be a wet day for most of Louisiana today. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the heavy rains could wreak some havoc but the state actually needs rain.

Cut 8 (06)  “…moderate drought.”

The heavy rains are expected to continue through Friday; in fact, the southern third of the state is under a flash flood watch through that day.

GOHSEP releases an updated version of its “Get A Game Plan” app to improve disaster preparedness. Spokesman Mike Steele says users can now access vital information on shelter locations, road closures, and power outages, all within the app.

Cut 4 (08) “…supplies you may need.”

Download the app on the App Store and Google Play store or visit get-a-game-plan-dot-org for more information and resources.

Governor Landry is urging LSU to bring out its live mascot, Mike The Tiger, to football games. He made that request as he and three other conservative officials who are also veterinarians recently met with the dean of the school of veterinary medicine, Oliver Garden. Among the other officials present was Minden Representative Wayne McMahen, who Piper Hutchinson with the Louisiana Illuminator says was very skeptical of whether Landry’s request was a good idea.

Cut 10 (09) “…tiger new tricks.”

This latest request comes on the heels of Landry urging LSU and other state schools to have their athletes present during the playing of the national anthem and revoking scholarships for those who refuse to do so.

Speaking of LSU – the Tigers’ leading rusher in Sunday’s loss to USC reportedly tore his ACL in practice yesterday and is out for the season. John Emery rushed for 61 yards in his first game back since tearing his ACL in his right knee last November.

Just four days to go before the Saints open their season against the Carolina Panthers at the Superdome. This season could be the last in a Saints uniform for Alvin Kamara, as contract talks between the running back and the ballclub have stalled. Kamara says now that the season is here, his only focus is on the field.

Cut 17 (09) “…after the season.”

Kamara has listed his Belle Chasse home for 2.75-million dollars. But that does not necessarily mean Kamara is on his way out — he has other properties in the city.

Coming off a win over Grambling, UL-Lafayette will look to make it two in a row to start the season as they hit the road to face Kennesaw State. Ragin’ Cajuns Coach Michael Desormeaux is looking to keep the momentum going.

Cut 25 (17) “…did last year.”

Kickoff in Kennesaw Saturday is at six p-m.

LSU Coach Brian Kelly seems to have calmed down from his table-pounding postgame news conference following the loss to USC. Kelly admitted that he was mad at his team for critical mistakes, including an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Kyren Lacy for making a shooting motion towards the Trojans following a touchdown pass. Kelly says Lacy knows better.

Cut 20 (23) “…I don’t care.”

LSU will try to regroup Saturday against Nicholls in Death Valley. 

And when they do, the live mascot Mike The Tiger will not be present, even though Governor Landry has requested that he be on the field. The school halted the tradition when it adopted the current Mike, citing responsible treatment of exotic animals.

South Louisiana homeowners interested in a grant of up to 10-thousand dollars for a fortified roof can register with the Department of Insurance later this month. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says they will randomly select 300 participants from the pool of eligible registrants.

Cut 4 (12) “…FORTIFIED roof.”

Temple cautions that the grant might not pay for the entire cost of the roof, in which case the homeowner would be responsible for the difference.

LSU Health New Orleans announces the launch of the Louisiana 3.0+ Scholars Pledge. School of Public Health Associate Dean Kari Brisolara says they want to do everything possible to keep students here and to nurture and retain talent in the state.

Cut 11 (08) “…gonna qualify.”

The investigation continues into the deadly shooting of a former mayor of Minden and his daughter by a young family member. 82-year-old Joe Cornelius and his 31-year-old daughter, Keisha Miles, were shot to death inside their home Sunday morning. Police Chief Jared McIver says investigators quickly zeroed in on one of two juveniles who were home at the time.

Cut 13 (14)  “…11 years of age.” 

The boy is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and his bond is set at 500-thousand dollars.

An 18-year-old Caldwell Parish man is arrested for allegedly strangling a spotted fawn. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says investigators were looking into an unrelated incident when they discovered the video of Taryn Varnell taking the deer and choking it to death. Senior Agent Michael Thacker says the video was graphic.

Cut 8 (05) “…aggressive manner.”

The investigation continues into the deadly shooting of a former mayor of Minden and his daughter by an 11-year-old relative. 82-year-old Joe Cornelius and his 31-year-old daughter, Keisha Miles, were shot to death inside their home Sunday morning. Minden Police Chief Jared McIver says determining why will take a while.

Cut 15 (12) “…piece by piece.”

The boy is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. His bond is set at a total of 500-thousand dollars.

South Louisiana homeowners can register with the Department of Insurance later this month to secure a grant of up to 10-thousand dollars for a fortified roof.  Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the grant might not cover the entire cost of the fortified roof.

Cut 6 (06) …difference there.”

Whereas the prior grant program was on a first-come, first-served basis, this one will use a lottery system, in which 300 applicants will be chosen.

A Caldwell Parish man is facing charges of animal cruelty after allegedly choking a fawn. Colleen Crain has the story

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Colleen Crain”

In the wake of calling for LSU athletes to be present for the playing of the national anthem, Governor Landry is now calling on the school to bring out their live mascot, Mike The Tiger, to football games. The school halted the tradition when it adopted the current Mike, citing responsible treatment of exotic animals. Just like the national anthem, LSU says it will not change current protocol.

A teenage girl is dead in a crash in Lafayette. She was among six juveniles and an adult in a vehicle being driven by a 14-year-old boy. Police Sergeant Matthew Benoit (BEN-wah) says the boy was driving recklessly when he crashed. He says the boy tried to escape but didn’t get very far.

Cut 5 (7) “…taken into custody.”

The boy is in juvenile detention and is facing four charges. Benoit notes that while investigators have established that the vehicle was stolen, it’s unclear whether that 14-year-old driver was the one who stole it.

If you’re a hunter, the Louisiana Second Amendment Weekend Sales Tax Holiday is back again Friday through Sunday. Bryon Henderson with the Department of Revenue says guns, ammunition and safety gear are exempt. However:

Cut 8 (06)  “…are not eligable.”

The exemption only applies to individual consumer purchases, not business or commercial purchases.

For the second time in as many weeks, a raccoon knocked out power in Terrebonne Parish. The raccoon got into the Eddison power substation in Houma, plunging six-thousand customers into darkness. Parish President Jason Bergeron (BAA-zher-on) says unfortunately, there’s little if anything that can be done about animals getting into the substation.

Cut 11 (08) “…system in 2019.”

Bergeron says this comes as the parish continues repairing powerlines damaged by Hurricane Ida.

Just four days to go before the Saints open their season against the Carolina Panthers at the Superdome. Saints star running back Alvin Kamara says Week 1 will set the tone for the season.

Cut  16 (08)   “…work to do?”

This season could be Kamara’s last in a Saints uniform. Contract talks between the running back and the ballclub have stalled.