5:30 LRN Newscast

New LSU football coach Lane Kiffin’s seven-year contract is worth more than 91-million dollars. Jeff Palermo has more on Kiffin’s new deal.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Lane Kiffin won’t be the only new sheriff in town. Southern University has introduced Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as its new head football coach this afternoon. The New Orleans native takes over for Terrence Graves, who was fired after the Jaguars started the season 1-and-6.

While the Lane Train has arrived in Baton Rouge, Jon Sumrall will soon be boarding the midnight train to Gainesville. The Tulane head coach has announced that he will become the head coach of the Florida Gators next season. There was no drama at Tulane – Athletic Director David Harris says Sumrall will coach the Green Wave through the end of the season.

Cut 7 (15) “…coach the team.”

The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office releases a series of videos to educate voters on the new closed party primaries for select offices. On Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster, Secretary of State Nancy Landry says the videos are part of a robust campaign to educate voters.

Cut 3 (10) “…in-person outreach.”

2:30 LRN Newscast

New LSU football coach Lane Kiffin’s seven-year contract is worth more than 91-million dollars. Jeff Palermo has more on Kiffin’s new deal.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Lane Kiffin won’t be the only new sheriff in town. Southern University has introduced Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as its new head football coach this afternoon. The New Orleans native takes over for Terrence Graves, who was fired after the Jaguars started the season 1-and-6.

The Secretary of State’s Office releases a series of videos to educate voters on the state’s new closed party primaries for select races. With a 30-day pushback approved by the legislature in the recent special session, the primary election is May 16th, with the runoff on June 27th. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says while that may seem a ways away, time is of the essence in making voters aware of the changes.

Cut 4 (05) “…ready for them.”

Retailers are expecting a brisk holiday shopping season, but economic factors will dictate where that spending is coming from. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says amid rising prices due to tariffs, young adults are forecast to scale back on their holiday spending considerably.

Cut 11 (11) “…in actual spend.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

Lane Kiffin is the new head football coach for LSU after a successful six-year stint with SEC rival Ole Miss. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says LSU deserves credit for hiring its top target.

Cut 12 (11) “…popcorn ready.”

While the Lane Train has arrived in Baton Rouge, Jon Sumrall will soon be boarding the midnight train to Gainesville. The Tulane head coach has announced that he will become the head coach of the Florida Gators next season. There was no drama at Tulane – Athletic Director David Harris says Sumrall will coach the Green Wave through the end of the season.

Cut 7 (15) “…coach the team.”

It was the safest bet at the start of the season, and the Saints made it official with their 21-17 loss to the Dolphins yesterday – they are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. After their potential game-tying two-point conversion was intercepted and returned for a defensive two-point conversion, the Saints recovered the ensuing onsides kick, but they couldn’t take advantage. Head Coach Kellen Moore:

Cut 20 (18) “…learn from this.”

Retailers are gearing up for a brisk holiday shopping season. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says overall, retailers are expecting a growth in revenue this year over last year.

Cut 9 (11)  “…since last year.”

12:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office releases a series of videos to educate voters on the new closed party primaries. They only apply to U.S. House, U.S. Senate, State Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and BESE races. On Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster, Secretary of State Nancy Landry says the videos are part of a robust campaign to educate voters.

Cut 3 (10) “…in-person outreach.”

Tulane is the latest Louisiana school needing a new head football coach. Jon Sumrall has announced that he’s leaving Tulane to take the head coaching job at Florida. Tulane Athletic Director David Harris says while it’s sad to lose Sumrall after two seasons, it’s not exactly unexpected, with the Green Wave one win away from a potential spot in the College Football Playoff.

Cut 6 (07) “…be what occurs.”

Of course, the biggest coaching news in Louisiana is LSU making official the hiring of Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss. Jeff Palermo has more on what the Tigers are getting in Kiffin.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

11:30 LRN Newscast

The LSU coaching saga is over. Lane Kiffin has officially signed his seven-year, 91-million-dollar contract to be the new Tigers’ head football coach. It looked like LSU would have a hard time attracting a big-time coach when it appeared that Governor Landry had a hand in Scott Woodward’s firing as athletic director. But Tiger Rag magazine editor Glenn Guilbeau says new AD Verge Ausberry was confident he could hire the best coach in college football.

Cut 11 (11) “..politics.”

The 2025 hurricane season is over; and for the first time since 2015, a hurricane did not make landfall in the U.S. Colorado State research scientist Phil Klotzbach says atmospheric conditions protected the U.S.

Cut 13 (09)  “…the hurricanes.”

For the first time ever, the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola hosted a daddy-daughter dance. Andre Champagne has more.

Cut 23 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Entergy is beginning construction on a pair of power plants in north Louisiana that will power Meta’s massive data center in Richland Parish. The Franklin Farms Power Station will consist of two combined-cycle combustion turbine facilities which the company says will add about 15-hundred megawatts of natural gas generation capacity.

10:30 LRN Newscast

A flight instructor and her student are presumed dead after a plane that took off from New Orleans Lakefront Airport crashed into Lake Pontchartrain Monday night. The owner of Apollo Flight School, Michael Carasto, says the plane disintegrated once it hit the water, so the chances of survival were slim.

Cut 11 (14) “…much in shock.”

After a 14-year-old Livingston Parish girl is charged with killing her newborn baby, Louisiana Right to Life is reminding everyone of the state’s Safe Haven Law. Policy Director Erica Inzina says the purpose is to protect the life of the newborn baby.

Cut 7 (12) “…no questions asked.”

There are also two Safe Haven drop boxes in South Louisiana.

You will certainly be in good company if you’re heading out of town for Thanksgiving today, as this is historically the busiest travel day of the year. While the car is easily the most popular Thanksgiving mode of transportation, Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says more and more people are boarding lines like “The City of New Orleans.”

Cut 6 (10) “…sure of that.”

Longtime Acadiana meteorologist Ed Roy has died. Roy started his career with KPEL but was best known for his 20-year stint on KATC. In addition to his work on TV, Roy also ran several businesses, including Ed Roy Private Investigations. He was also a public servant, having served on the Lafayette Parish Council and with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. Ed Roy was 74 years old.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana Right to Life is reminding everyone of the state’s Safe Haven Law. This, after a 14-year-old Livingston Parish girl allegedly killed her newborn baby immediately after birth. Under the law, a mother can drop off the baby up to 60 days old at a designated surrender location with no questions asked. In addition, Policy Director Erica Inzina says in South Louisiana, there are two Safe Haven drop-off boxes.

Cut 8 (15) “…has walked away.”

“The worst of the worst” – those are the scathing words of Vernon Parish Judge Tony Bennett as he sentenced 44-year-old Morris Perkins of Rosepine to life in prison without the possibility of parole for raping a child under the age of 13. Not that he will outlive that sentence, but he was also sentenced to a consecutive 30-year term for child pornography.

Regardless of the mode of transportation, today is one of the busiest travel days of the year. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says almost seven-million people in the West South Central Region will hit the road this holiday; so if you’re heading out today, now is a really good time to leave.

Cut 4 (08) “…bulk of people.”

After missing two more field goals Sunday, the Saints replace Blake Grupe with former LSU Tiger Cade York. The Saints chose York over Justin Tucker, who recently completed a ten-game suspension for alleged improper behavior with massage therapists. NFL analyst Mike Detillier with WWL Radio says there’s simply too much baggage with Tucker.

Cut 15 (12) “…his NFL career.”

LRN AM Newscall November 26

After a 14-year-old Livingston Parish girl is charged with killing her newborn baby, Louisiana Right to Life wants to remind you of the state’s Safe Haven Law. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A young flight instructor and her student are presumed dead after their Cessna plane crashed into Lake Pontchartrain Monday night. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

High school football quarterfinals kick off this weekend. Kace Kieschnick has LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett’s games to watch in the non-select brackets.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Regardless of the mode of transportation, today is one of the busiest travel days of the year. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says almost seven-million people in the West South Central Region will hit the road this holiday; so if you’re heading out today, do so as soon as possible.

Cut 4 (08) “…bulk of people.”

Redman says the best part about traveling by car this year is cheap gas.

Cut 5 (10) “…head into Christmas.”

More than 430-thousand will be taking to the friendly skies, and Redman says another mode of transportation has gained popularity this year.

Cut 6 (10) “…sure of that.”

_________________________________________________

After a 14-year-old Livingston Parish girl is charged with killing her newborn baby, Louisiana Right to Life is reminding everyone of the state’s Safe Haven Law. Policy Director Erica Inzina says the purpose is to protect the life of the newborn baby.

Cut 7 (12) “…no questions asked.”

(Up to 60 days old, the mother can drop the baby off at a designated surrender location with no questions asked.) A mother can drop the baby off at any hospital, a staffed fire station or a staffed law enforcement station. In addition, Inzina says in South Louisiana, there are two Safe Haven drop-off boxes.

Cut 8 (15) “…has walked away.”

Inzina says in light of what happened in Denham Springs this week, there needs to be more outreach to let people know that the Safe Haven Law exists in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (08)  “…a safe option.”

____________________________________________________________

A flight instructor and her student are presumed dead after a plane that took off from the New Orleans Lakefront Airport crashed into Lake Pontchartrain Monday night. The owner of Apollo Flight School, Michael Carasto, says it’s unknown why the instructional flight over the lake turned into a tragedy.

Cut 10 (12) “…or what happened.”

Carasto says the Cessna plane they were flying was a late 70s or 80s model, but it was maintained to regulation standards. He says there was no distress call, and the plane disintegrated once it hit the water, so the chances of survival were slim.

Cut 11 (14) “…much in shock.”

Carasto says the instructor was highly qualified with 13-hundred flying hours. He says both victims were in their 20s.

Cut 12 (06) “…is my first.”

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The Saints have cut 27-year-old kicker Blake Grupe after he missed two more field goals on Sunday, and they’ve signed former LSU Tiger Cade York. Grupe’s eight missed field goals this season leads the NFL. WWL radio NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the offensively-challenged Saints could no longer wait for Grupe to snap out of his slump.

Cut 13 (10)  “…they’re loaded offensively.”

York was on LSU’s 2019 national championship team, and he made 82-percent of field goals in three seasons at LSU. He struggled his rookie season with the Bengals in 2022, and he only appeared in six games last season. Detillier says York has not kicked in the NFL this year.

Cut 14 (11) “…a bit inconsistent.”

The Saints passed on signing kicker Justin Tucker, who recently completed a ten-game suspension for alleged improper behavior with massage therapists. Detillier says there’s simply too much baggage with Tucker.

Cut 15 (12) “…his NFL career.”

____________________________________________________________

The quarterfinals of the Louisiana high school football playoffs kick off Friday. LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett says the chaos of the D-1 non-select bracket has lived up to the hype. 26th seeded Barbe upset Northwood and West Monroe, but Verrett says their Cinderella run will have to go through second-ranked Neville.

Cut 16 (16) “…offense keep going.”

Verrett says he’s circling Belle Chasse versus West Feliciana in Division Two. Coach Stephen Meyers’ Cardinals have the makings of a championship contender.

Cut 17 (16)  “…back in Louisiana.”

Third-seeded St. James will take on sixth seeded Oak Grove Friday in the division three quarterfinals. Verrett says this will be a matchup between two dynamic offenses.

Cut 18 (18)  “…to possibly win.”

Oak Grove is outscoring opponents 89-0 in the playoffs this year so far.

_______________________________________________________________

UL-Lafayette football is just one win away from becoming bowl eligible for the eighth straight year. The Cajuns take on the ULM Warhawks Saturday for rivalry weekend, and head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-moe) says he wants his team to start out faster and be able to finish the season strong.

Cut 19 (13) “…postseason dreams alive.”

In the Cajuns’ 34-30 win over Arkansas State, starting center Cooper Fordham and veteran reserve Mackey Maillho (MAIL-oh) suffered season-ending injuries. UL-Lafayette is now up to nine offensive linemen who are out for the year. Desormeaux says everyone has elevated their play to get the team to this point.

Cut 20 (21) “…handle and weather.”

Kickoff in Lafayette Saturday is at 2 p.m.

5:30 LRN Newscast

Attorney General Liz Murrill is criticizing a judge for granting bail to a death row inmate. Judge Alvin Sharp threw out Jimmy Duncan’s 1998 first-degree murder conviction for killing his girlfriend’s 23-month-old daughter and granted him 150-thousand dollars bail. Murrill says since the case is on appeal at the state Supreme Court, the decision to grant Duncan bail was not Sharp’s to make.

Cut 4 (06) “…orders at all.”

LSU kicks off the Death Valley Concert Series with a performance by Zach Bryan March 28th. LSU Deputy Athletic Director Clay Harris says both LSU and the city are putting emphasis on bringing live music to Tiger Stadium.

Cut 8 (08) “…you name it.”

Harris says the school feels that it’s important to open the doors to Tiger Stadium more than seven times a year for football games.

This holiday week, police departments are out in full force watching out for people in vehicles who are not wearing their seatbelts. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s Click It or Ticket Campaign is going on now through Sunday; and spokesman Greg Fischer says since seat belt violations are a primary offense in Louisiana, an officer can pull you over just for not being buckled up.

Cut 9 (09)  “…your seat belt.”

Willis Knighton Health’s Progressive Care Center in Shreveport earned a Best Nursing Home Award for 2026 by U.S. News and World Report. Administrator Debra Crump says all glory goes to her staff.

Cut 12 (09) “…that we do.”

The publication evaluates centers on their patient and resident outcomes, staffing ratio and inspection results.

4:30 LRN Newscast

A man on death row for killing his girlfriend’s 23-month-old daughter is granted bail after his murder conviction is thrown out. However, he won’t be walking out as a free man anytime soon. Back in April, District Court Judge Alvin Sharp threw out Jimmy Duncan’s first-degree murder conviction and set Duncan’s bail at 150-thousand dollars – an action that Attorney General Liz Murrill says was outside his authority.

Cut 3 (08) “…the underlying ruling.”

Willis Knighton Health’s Progressive Care Center in Shreveport earns a Best Nursing Home Award for 2026 by U.S. News and World Report. Administrator Debra Crump says they’re dedicated to helping their patients recover from illness, injury or surgery.

Cut 14 (13) “…home environment.”

There’s “Something in the Orange” in Tiger Stadium this spring. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

Louisiana Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham has just been tapped as the Principal Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s the number-two job at the agency. During his time as the state’s first surgeon general, Abraham worked to end the promotion of vaccination clinics in the state.