12:30 LRN Newscast

After less than a week, the special session is over. The legislature has voted to delay the 2026 federal primary elections by 30 days, with the April closed primary moving to May. Democrats have fought against this GOP-backed plan, including Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan.

Cut 6 (12) “…political process.”

The legislation also moves qualifying from January to February. House Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Beau Beaullieu pushed back against the idea they’re trying to suppress the Black vote.

Cut 7 (11) “…interference.”

Republicans say this will give them more time in case the Supreme Court rules in the coming weeks that the current Congressional map is unconstitutional.

LSU’s search for its next president is down to five – Interim President Matt Lee, McNeese President Wade Rousse, Tulane Research VP Giovanni Piedimonte (ZHEE-uh-von-ee pee-duh-MON-tuh), Former Arizona President Robert Robbins and Alabama Provost and Executive VP James Dalton. Piper Hutchinson with the Louisiana Illuminator says while the decision will ultimately be made by the Board of Supervisors, Governor Landry will have outsized influence in the process – especially since he’s the one who appoints board members.

Cut 4 (14) “…looks that way.”

11:30 LRN Newscast

LSU’s search for its next president is down to five – Interim President Matt Lee, McNeese President Wade Rousse, Tulane Research VP Giovanni Piedimonte, Former Arizona President Robert Robbins and Alabama Provost and Executive VP James Dalton. Piper Hutchinson with the Louisiana Illuminator says the five will have some busy days ahead.

Cut 3 (14) “…and upper administrators.”

Senator Bill Cassidy now has to fend off a challenge from five prominent Republicans in next year’s primary election in order to hold onto his Senate seat, with the newest addition being State Representative Julie Emerson. Cassidy says he welcomes the additional competition and the political attacks that will come with it.

Cut 6 (05) “…plan on winning.”

Frank Wilson is hard at work as LSU’s interim football coach, preparing his team to take on Alabama in Tuscaloosa a week from Saturday. Wilson says he’s not thinking into the future, whether he would be considered for the full-time vacancy. He says when he was asked to serve as head coach for the remainder of the season, he jumped at the opportunity.

Cut 15 (09) “…university extremely well.”

One name that’s been mentioned as Brian Kelly’s permanent replacement is Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall. During his media availability yesterday, Sumrall said he’s not fazed or distracted by the mentions of his name in the coaching searches and said he’s locked in on playing UTSA tomorrow night.

Cut 17 (11) “…my focus, fully.”

LRN PM Newscall October 28

A huge change in weather is on the way across the state. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

___________________________________________________

Monroe police are investigating a triple homicide where one of the victims was a two-year-old girl. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

______________________________________________________

It’s finally going to start feeling like fall this week. A cold front is coming through the lower Mississippi Valley today; and State Climatologist Jay Grymes says that will bring a huge change in temperatures.

Cut 3 (12) “…time of year.”

Grymes says temperatures will drop significantly behind this cold front, so you will want to break out that jacket as you make your way to school or work in the morning.

Cut 4 (09) “…into the 40s.”

Grymes says the state could also be in for a little precipitation.

Cut 5 (08) “…passage as well.”

Grymes says by the weekend, parts of the state will be back into the 70s, so enjoy the cooler temperatures while you can.

___________________________________________________

Hurricane Melissa is shaping up to be one of the most devastating storms in history. It made landfall in Jamaica as a Category Five hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 miles an hour. Retired Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore, who led the response in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, says the top priority is to help the people who couldn’t evacuate from the island.

Cut 6 (11) “…along the coast.”

Honore says the United Nations will be coordinating the relief effort. He says some private organizations are ready to help, including one from Louisiana.

Cut 7 (14) “…send in supplies.”

To put Melissa’s strength in perspective, when Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana 20 years ago, its winds were 125 miles an hour, making it a Category Three storm. As such, by the time Melissa passes, the damage will be mind-boggling. Honore says it could take many years for Jamaica to recover.

Cut 8 (07) “…get them recovered.”

___________________________________________________

The Monroe Police Department is investigating a triple homicide. One of the victims was a two-year-old girl. Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis says they were gunned down in an overnight shooting on Grammont Street.

Cut 9 (12)  “…should be a moral wakeup call.”

The other two victims are adults

Monroe Police Chief Vic Zordan says they are offering a five-thousand dollar reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooter…

Cut 10 (11) “…very soon.”

Zordan is urging people not to take justice in their own hands as he’s concerned about retaliatory shootings.

Ellis says this violent event will not be tolerated…

Cut 11 (10) “…work to be done”

_____________________________________________________________

Governor Landry wants to immortalize slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Cut 12 (08) “…on college campuses.”

Landry made that request following a Turning Point USA event on the LSU campus, which Kirk was scheduled to speak at, had it not been for his assassination back in September.

Cut 13 (03)  “…to do it.”

Landry’s request has garnered mixed reaction, with the majority of comments on his post on “X” in opposition – whether it be for Kirk’s political views or Kirk’s lack of connection to LSU or Louisiana.

4:30 LRN Newscast

The Monroe Police Department is investigating a triple homicide. One of the victims was a two-year-old girl. Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis says they were gunned down in an overnight shooting on Grammont Street.

Cut 9 (12)  “…should be a moral wakeup call.”

The other two victims were adults. A five-thousand dollar reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the shooter.

A cold front coming through the state is going to finally make it feel like fall outside. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says temperatures will drop significantly behind this cold front, so you will want to break out that jacket as you make your way to school or work in the morning.

Cut 4 (09) “…into the 40s.”

Enjoy it while you can – Grymes says temperatures will return to the 70s by this weekend.

Hurricane Melissa is leaving a trail of utter devastation behind in Jamaica. It made landfall today as a Category Five hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of a whopping 185 miles an hour. Retired Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore says the United Nations will be coordinating the relief effort, and he says some private organizations are ready to help, including one from Louisiana.

Cut 7 (14) “…send in supplies.”

Governor Landry wants to immortalize slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Cut 12 (08) “…on college campuses.”

Landry’s request has garnered mixed reaction, with the majority of comments on his post on “X” in opposition – whether it be for Kirk’s political views or Kirk’s lack of connection to LSU or Louisiana.

3:30 LRN Newscast

Hurricane Melissa is shaping up to be one of the most devastating storms in history. It made landfall in Jamaica as a Category Five hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 miles an hour. Retired Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore, who led the response in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, says the top priority is to help the people who couldn’t evacuate from the island.

Cut 6 (11) “…along the coast.”

Closer to home, it’s finally going to start feeling like fall this week. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says a cold front is bringing a huge change in temperatures.

Cut 3 (12) “…time of year.”

Overnight lows this week will plunge into the 40s.

Monroe police are investigating a triple homicide where one of the victims was a two-year-old girl. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Governor Landry is urging the LSU Board of Supervisors to erect a statue of Charlie Kirk on campus.

Cut 13 (03)  “…to do it.”

Landry’s request has garnered mixed reaction, with the majority of comments on his post on “X” in opposition – whether it be for Kirk’s political views or Kirk’s lack of connection to LSU or Louisiana.

1:30 LRN Newscast

The Monroe Police Department is investigating a triple homicide. One of the victims is a two-year-old girl. Monroe Police Chief Vic Zordan says they are offering a five-thousand dollar reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooter.

Cut 10 (11) “…very soon.”

It’s finally going to start feeling like fall this week. A cold front is coming through the lower Mississippi Valley today; behind it will be daytime highs in the 60s and overnight lows down into the 40s. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the state could also be in for a little precipitation.

Cut 5 (08) “…passage as well.”

Grymes says by the weekend, parts of the state will be back into the 70s, so enjoy the cooler temperatures while you can.

Hurricane Melissa is ravaging Jamaica at this hour. It made landfall today as a Category Five hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 miles an hour. Retired Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore says the United Nations will be coordinating the relief effort, and he says some private organizations are ready to help, including one from Louisiana.

Cut 7 (14) “…send in supplies.”

Governor Landry wants to immortalize slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Cut 12 (08) “…on college campuses.”

Landry’s request has garnered mixed reaction, with the majority of comments on his post on “X” in opposition – whether it be for Kirk’s political views or Kirk’s lack of connection to LSU or Louisiana.

11:30 LRN Newscast

It’s finally going to start feeling like fall this week. A cold front is coming through the lower Mississippi Valley today; and State Climatologist Jay Grymes says that will bring a huge change in temperatures.

Cut 3 (12) “…time of year.”

Grymes says the back end of the cold front will bring daytime highs in the 60s and will send overnight lows plunging into the 40s.

Governor Landry reportedly had outsized influence in Scott Woodward’s decision to fire Brian Kelly as LSU’s head football coach. Jeremy Alford, the publisher of LaPolitics-dot-com, says such involvement by Landry is not unprecedented.

Cut 24 (14) “…of his personality.”

LSU is expected to be aggressive in getting the best football coach it can find. So who’s the betting favorite to replace Brian Kelly? Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

As one bridge gets set to reopen, another gets set to close. The bridge along L-A 507 over a waterway near the Village of Castor in Bienville Parish will reopen Friday after being closed for ten months. Then on Monday, a bridge along that same roadway near the intersection of L-A 514 in Red River Parish will close for nine months for replacement.

LRN AM Newscall October 28

Governor Landry reportedly had something to do with Brian Kelly losing his job as LSU’s head football coach. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

LSU is expected to be aggressive in getting the best football coach it can find. So who’s the betting favorite to replace Brian Kelly? Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

A real taste of fall is coming, as the strongest cold front of the season makes its way through the Bayou State later today. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Bill Jacquemin.”

_________________________________________________

Governor Landry reportedly had outsized influence in Scott Woodward’s decision to fire Brian Kelly as LSU’s head football coach. Jeremy Alford, the publisher of LaPolitics-dot-com, says such involvement by Landry is not unprecedented.

Cut 4 (14) “…of his personality.”

Alford says Landry injecting himself into LSU football’s business has been par for the course for him – last season, over objections from the university and veterinary experts, Landry facilitated the transport of a live tiger to be wheeled onto the field at Tiger Stadium prior to the Alabama game.

Cut 5 (08) “…miss that opportunity.”

Alford says it’s not that unusual for governors to be involved to some degree in their respective states’ football programs – in fact, in an indirect way, they already are.

Cut 6 (09) “…our flagship university.”

_________________________________________________

Bookies-dot-com has Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin as the betting favorite to be the next head coach of the LSU Tigers. Kiffin’s odds are at +375 or 21-percent. Christopher Boan, the lead writer for Bookies-dot-com, says Kiffin has the seventh-ranked Rebels in position to make the College Football Playoff, but he could build a consistent winner in Baton Rouge.

Cut 7 (05) “…last 25 years.”

BetOnline has Tulane Coach Jon Sumrall as the favorite to be the next LSU coach at +150. Boan says Bookies-dot-com gives Sumrall a 10-percent chance of being the next head coach. He says the 43-year-old is an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks.

Cut 8 (08) “…he’s a dog.”

Bookies-dot-com has Louisville coach Jeff Brohm and Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham as two other coaches who have decent odds replace Kelly. Boan says Brohm and Dillingham are having success at their alma maters.

Cut 9 (09)  “…Kenny Dillingham’s case.”

_________________________________________________

Now that Julie Emerson has become the fifth prominent candidate to challenge Bill Cassidy for the Republican Senate nomination, how does that change the primary race? ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says given the number of challengers he’s facing, Cassidy has almost no chance of securing a majority of the vote in the primary, but he’s all but guaranteed to finish in the top two.

Cut 10 (11) “…in the office.”

Cross says usually, entering the race at this relatively late stage might work against Emerson and her ability to raise enough money to mount a serious challenge. However, these days, the late start won’t hurt her quite as much.

Cut 11 (13) “…and other media.”

Cross says since Emerson has entered the race, there’s one name that we will likely NOT see on the Senate ballot.

Cut 12 (12) “…to get in.”

(Cross says with Emerson in, that means Julia Letlow likely has decided not to enter the race.)

_________________________________________________

State Police have arrested a 21-year-old Monroe man for allegedly staging multiple car crashes and collecting thousands of dollars in fraudulent insurance claims. Senior Trooper Ryan Davis says they started their investigation in February, after the Louisiana Department of Insurance alerted them that Adrian Simpson was involved in insurance fraud.

Cut 13 (08)  “…September of 2025.” 

Davis says as the investigation progressed, investigators learned that Sampson had planned, staged and orchestrated crashes to file fraudulent insurance claims.

Cut 14 (11) “…for personal gain.”

Davis says Sampson potentially gained 156-thousand dollars from the victims of his fraudulent claims. He’s facing 49 felony counts of racketeering, insurance fraud, criminal damage to property, and staged crashes.

Cut 15 (09) “…from Mr. Sampson.”

Anyone with information regarding this matter should contact the State Police Insurance Fraud-Auto Theft Unit in Monroe at 318-362-4588.

___________________________________________________

UL-Lafayette is now 2-and-6 on the year after Saturday’s 35-23 loss to Troy. Head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-moe) says from this point forward, each game will matter a little more, as the Cajuns now have to win out to become bowl eligible.

Cut 16 (12) “…at right now.”

UL-Lafayette hasn’t missed a bowl game since 2017.

___________________________________________________

ULM is now 3-and-5 after a 49-21 loss to Southern Mississippi on Saturday. Head coach Bryant Vincent still has full faith in the job that he and his players are working towards with building the program.

Cut 17 (19) “…at this point.”

The Warhawks return to Monroe to host Old Dominion this Saturday afternoon at 2:30.

_____________________________________________________

In the Saints’ 23-3 loss to the Buccaneers, starting quarterback Spencer Rattler was benched after turning the ball over twice. Rookie Tyler Shough (“shuck”) came into the game late in the third quarter and threw for 128 yards with an interception. Head coach Kellen Moore says the team has not decided on a starer for this week’s game against the Rams.

Cut 18 (12)  “…can moving forward.”

Rattler was taken out of the game after fumbling and throwing an interception. With the quarterback competition being reopened, Rattler says his mentality will remain the same as it’s been all season as the Saints prepare to take on the Rams.

Cut 19 (13) “…the same way.”

Shough says he has to do a better job moving forward.

Cut 20 (10) “…the job done.”

5:30 LRN Newscast

Cut 24 (05) “…to get fired.” (use laughs as bed)

Former Saints coach Bum Phillips’ words of wisdom could come in handy for Brian Kelly; as he has been fired for the first time in his coaching career. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says things quickly unraveled yesterday, when LSU athletic director Scott Woodward demanded that Kelly make changes to his coaching staff.

Cut 9 (09)  “…from there.”

Senator Bill Cassidy has yet another challenger for his U.S. Senate seat, as State Representative Julie Emerson has announced her candidacy. The Carencro Republican heavily touted her conservative credentials in her four-minute introductory video.

Cut 5 (13) “…for their children.”

While inflation slowed down last month, it is still up year-over-year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says prices are three-percent higher than they were at this time last year. Bankrate analyst Stephen Kates says the way this year started, the three-percent year-over-year inflation is much better than what analysts had been bracing for.

Cut 8 (13) “…down from there.”

Despite the ongoing government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reopened all Farm Service Agency offices across the country. During a visit to Amite late last week, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the USDA will soon announce a plan to provide additional relief to American farmers.

Cut 14 (13) “…government to reopen.”

3:30 LRN Newscast

Make it five – Senator Bill Cassidy has a fifth prominent Republican challenger for his seat, as Julie Emerson has announced her candidacy. In her introductory video, the Carencro state representative says as chairwoman of the House Ways and Means Committee, she led the effort to reform Louisiana’s tax code.

Cut 4 (13) “…in economic outlook.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says overall prices rose by three-tenths of a percent from August to September; when highly variable items like food and energy are excluded, prices rose by two-tenths of a percent. Stephen Kates, a financial analyst at Bankrate, says both of those figures came in lower than expected.

Cut 6 (08) “…August to September.”

The Brian Kelly era is over at LSU. Jeff Palermo reports on why it didn’t work and what happens next…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Despite the government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reopened all Farm Service Agency offices across the country. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins made the announcement while visiting Amite late last week.

Cut 13 (06)  “…out right now”