9:30 LRN Newscast Sept 3

Bossier Police Sergeant Harold BJ Sanford remains behind bars. He was arrested last weekend by Federal agents in connection to an investigation of the police union and alleged embezzlement of drug purchases. A Federal Judge refused to award Sanford and his associate Mitch Morehead bond deeming them a danger to the community.

A south Louisiana man faces a life sentence after he was convicted of raping a teenager while the victim’s mother was tied up in a separate room. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

After a two-year break due to COVID, the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival returns to Opelousas today. Festival executive director Lena Charles says they had virtual events during the COVID break, but there’s nothing like being able to share the best of Southwest Louisiana in person…:

Cut 8 (12) “…you know that.”

Tiger Rag Magazine Assistant Editor William Weathers believes Jayden Daniels will be the starting QB Sunday for the Tigers. Coach Brian Kelly has declined to name his starter, so Florida State won’t know which previous game footage to study, Daniels at Arizona State or Garrett Nussmeier’s four games at LSU. But Weathers says Kelly has informed a select few.

Cut 13 (08) “…gotten out yet.” 

8:30 LRN Newscast Sept 3

A Lafourche Parish jury of 12 took only 90-minutes to return a unanimous guilty verdict against 55-year-old Morgan Ratley of Cutoff, for raping a teen girl while her mother was tied up in July of 2019. David Melancon with the Lafourche DA’s office, says evidence on the victim’s cell phone helped convict Ratley…:

CUT 05  (11)        “…able to collect.”

State Police in Jefferson Parish is seeking a hit & run driver that killed two people early Friday morning on the Westbank Expressway in Marrero. Trooper Kate Stegall says the victims were on a motorscooter, when a Ford F-150 extended cab pickup came up behind, and just plowed them over…:

CUT 10  (07)        “…failed to stop.”

A September 6th trial date has been set for the woman accused of throwing her children off the Cross Lake Bridge in Caddo Parish last year. Ureaka Black was arrested in Texas last September hours after the body of her 10-month-old son was found in the water. She faces multiple charges including second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

The Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival is back! Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 2 (32) I’m Marsanne Golsby.”  

5:30 LRN Newscast Sept 2

A south Louisiana man faces a life sentence after he was convicted of raping a teenager while the victim’s mother was tied up in a separate room. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A September 6th trial date has been set for the woman accused of throwing her children off the Cross Lake Bridge in Caddo Parish last year. Ureaka Black was arrested in Texas last September hours after the body of her 10-month-old son was found in the water. She faces multiple charges including second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

There’s a couple of big festivals on the calendar this weekend, the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival in Morgan City and in Opelousas tomorrow it’s the Original Southwest Louisiana Music Festival. Festival director Lena Charles says the festival began in soybean field in 1982 and they’ve made it an all-day event …
cut 7 (13) “…of the story
The festival starts at noon at the Yambilee Festival Building.

The mystery of who will be LSU’s starting quarterback remains unsolved. But Tiger Rag Magazine Assistant Editor Williams Weathers believes it will most likely be Jayden Daniels because he’s had 29 starts at the Division 1 level in the Pac-12…:

CUT 12(09)      “…make more sense.”

Kickoff is 6:30 Sunday night in the Superdome.

4:30 LRN Newscast Sept 2

A Lafourche Parish jury of 12 took only 90-minutes to return a unanimous guilty verdict against 55-year-old Morgan Ratley of Cutoff, for raping a teen girl while her mother was tied up July of 2019. David Melancon with the Lafourche DA’s office, says evidence on the victim’s cell phone helped convict Ratley…:

CUT 05  (11)        “…able to collect.”

State Police in Jefferson Parish are seeking a hit & run driver that killed two people early this morning on the Westbank Expressway in Marrero. Trooper Kate Stegall says the victims were on a motorscooter, when a Ford F-150 extended cab pickup came up behind, and just plowed them over…:

CUT 10  (07)        “…failed to stop.”

Stegall says both the operator of the scooter and the passenger died at the scene.

A September 6th trial date has been set for the woman accused of throwing her children off the Cross Lake Bridge in Caddo Parish last year. Ureaka Black was arrested in Texas last September hours after the body of her 10-month-old son was found in the water. She faces multiple charges including second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

The Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival is back! Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 2 (32) I’m Marsanne Golsby.”  

3:30 LRN Newscast Sept 2

State Police in Troop B need the public’s help solving a hit & run early this morning in Marrero, in Jefferson Parish, that left two people dead. Trooper First Class Kate Stegall says it happened on the elevated Westbank Expressway at about 3:30 am…:

Cut 9 (12)  “…occupants on the scooter.”

A Cut-Off man faces life in prison after a jury convicted him of raping a teenager while the mother was restrained. Lafourche Parish district attorney’s office spokesperson David Melancon says the victim testified during the trial and delivered powerful testimony, describing the sexual abuse and fear she lives with at the hands of 55-year-old Morgan Ratley…

Cut 4  (09) “…strength”
Ratley will be sentenced next month.

Tiger Rag Magazine Assistant Editor William Weathers believes Jayden Daniels will be the starting QB Sunday for the Tigers. Coach Brian Kelly has declined to name his starter, so Florida State won’t know which previous game footage to study, Daniels at Arizona State or Garrett Nussmeier’s four games at LSU. But Weathers says Kelly has informed a select few.

Cut 13 (08) “…gotten out yet.” 

After a two-year break due to COVID, the Original Southwest Zydeco Louisiana Music Festival returns to Opelousas Saturday. Festival executive director Lena Charles says Zydeco gained popularity with poor farm workers as a way to boost their spirits after a long day in the fields. She says it has the same effect today.

Cut 6 (10) “…away from that.” 

AM LRN Newscall Sept 1

If all goes well, the Artemis unmanned mission to circle the moon will launch tomorrow. Marsanne Golsby on how some students are fascinated by space travel.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

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Sunday’s LSU Tigers season opener with new coach Brian Kelly in the Superdome is expected to be a big boost to tourism in the Crescent City. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

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Construction is underway on the state’s newest women’s prison in St. Gabriel. Brooke Thorington has more on what features the $149-million facility will have.

Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Two generations ago, classrooms were glued to televisions watching Apollo moon missions. The last Apollo mission ended about 30 years before today’s generation of students were born. Hannah Populus didn’t see the first moon launches either, but she’s really excited about Artemis. The Baton Rouge teacher has brought that excitement to her students at Parkview Baptist School.

Cut 4 (08)  “…for me”

Populus is an English teacher, but she loves space so much she incorporates the theme into writing exercises. Recently the class pretended they were going to Mars.

Cut 5 (10) “…in reality”

Populus says she thinks the excitement about Artemis makes sense because people, especially students, are innately curious.

Cut 6 (13)  “…atmosphere.”

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Anticipation is high for the LSU Fighting Tigers’ season opener against Florida State Sunday in the Superdome. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says his office made a $1-million sponsorship to assure the event came to New Orleans, and it is paying off…:

Cut 7 (08) “…here in Louisiana.”

Nungesser himself was selected to do the official coin toss for first possession to start the game. South Louisiana singer & Cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw will sing the National Anthem. Then, fans will see their first of new head coach Brian Kelly’s LSU Tigers. Nungesser says even fans with no tickets can enjoy a big party outside the Superdome at Champions Square…:

Cut 8 (10)  “…makes Louisiana special.”

Kickoff is Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Nungesser expects this to be a huge weekend for New Orleans, as the Southern Decadence LGBT Festival is also happening in the French Quarter. Nungesser says it’s a great start to a renewed fall football and festivals season all across the state…:

Cut 9 (07)  “…at every university.”

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After six years, construction is finally underway in the Iberville Parish town of St. Gabriel on the state’s newest women’s prison. Corrections Secretary Jimmy Le Blanc says the $149 million state-of-the-art facility will have 938-beds and be located on the west side of the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center facility.

Cut 10 (09) “…go home.”

Since the previous facility flooded in 2016, Le Blanc says the majority of female inmates have been housed at the former Jetson youth facility in Baton Rouge and the new prison should be completed in 28 months.

Cut  11 (11)  “…local level.” 

The new facility will have space for multiple rehabilitative programs, for example, cosmetology, horticulture, welding, and computer programming. Le Blanc says it will also have an area dedicated to inmates who need mental health services.

Cut 12 (10) “…with their children.” 

He says the post-partum section of the women’s will be a first of its kind for Louisiana once construction is completed.

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More than 30 pounds of trash that were headed to the Gulf of Mexico has been intercepted by a device called the Litter Gitter Gulf of Mexico Alliance spokesperson Amanda Nalley says the device was placed on a residential canal in Metairie.

Cut 13 (12) “…stopped from getting there.”

Nalley says when you see trash on the streets if it’s not disposed of properly once it rains it eventually makes it down through our waterways and into the gulf.

Cut 14 (08)  “…thing for the gulf.”

In addition to keeping litter from entering the gulf, Nalley says they were also able to see what kind of trash was intercepted and the majority of the 32 pounds collected in the time span of a month were plastic water bottles.

Cut 15 (09)  “…some of this.”

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance assisted the Pontchartrain Conservancy with acquiring the Litter Gitter that was created by the Osprey Initiative in Mobile, Alabama.

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For just the tenth time in history, LSU and Florida State will face off against each other on the gridiron when they meet in the Superdome Sunday. It’s the season opener for the Tigers, while the Seminoles dominated Duquense 47-7 last week in Tallahassee. FSU has a veteran dual-threat quarterback in Jordan Travis and LSU Coach Brian Kelly says they want to keep Travis in the pocket

Cut 16 (16)  “…makes him predictable.” 

On defense, Kelly says the Seminoles’ defensive tackles have size…

Cut 17 (20) “…their defensive line.” 

The top player on the D-Line is defensive tackle Fabian Lovett, who was an All-ACC honorable mention last season.

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The Ragin Cajuns kick off its season tomorrow with the nation’s longest winning streak at 13 games. They’ll try to make it 14 in a row when they host Southeastern Louisiana at 6 PM. The Lions are the preseason favorite to win it in the Southland, even though they have a new quarterback in Cephus Johnson. U-L Lafayette Coach Michael Desormeaux on the matchup…

Cut  18 (17)“…out of it.”

It’s Desormeaux’s first season as head coach of the Cajuns. He says they’ve had a good preseason camp and now it’s showtime…

Cut 19 (14) “…wanna see”

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Northwestern State heads to Missoula, Montana for its opening game as the Demons visit the second-ranked team in the F-C-S, the Montana Grizzlies. It’s the Demon’s first visit to Washington-Grizzly Stadium since 2004 and only one player on Northwestern’s team has ever visited the state of Montana. Coach Braid Laird says it’s a challenging place to play…

Cut 20 (13) “ …playoff atmosphere” 

5:30 LRN Newscast Sept 1

5:30 (17) 8:30 (20)

A 17-year-old has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 15-year-old who was killed last night after Lafayette Police say was a drug-deal gone bad. LPD’s Sgt Robin Green

Cut 12 (08) “…drug transaction”  

She says there were a number of witnesses, and they hope the arrest will bring about justice for the victim’s family.

WestRock has broken ground on a 97-million-dollar expansion at its paper mill in Hodge. The paper mill has been a major employer in Jackson Parish for 90 years as it’s responsible for 450 direct jobs. State Representative Jack McFarland says the facility is also a driver of economic activity for surrounding parishes…:

Cut 3 (11) “…wood chip community” 

Construction is expected to continue into 2024.

The first week of the college football season kicks off tonight and two new sports betting parlors open today in Louisiana. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says there’s the Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans and the DraftKings sportsbook at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles. He says the L’Auberge Casino in Baton Rouge is expected to open its Barstool sportsbook soon.

Cut 10 (10) “..their market” 

The Shrimp and Petroleum Festival in Morgan City kicks off today. Carrie Stansbury, Executive Director of the Cajun Coast Visitor’s Bureau says the annual event includes continuous music, plenty of seafood, along with arts and crafts. She says Sunday however is their traditional day.

Cut 7 (07) “…fireworks at night.” 

It’s the oldest charted harvest festival in the state.

1:30 LRN Newscast Sept 1

WestRock has broken ground on a 97-million-dollar expansion in Jackson Parish. The governor’s office says the company is expected to utilize the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program. State Representative Jack McFarland thanks WestRock for securing jobs and supporting contractors who rely on the paper mill.

Cut 5  (11) “…as well”

Morgan City’s Shrimp and Petroleum Festival is back and Carrie Stansbury, Executive Director of the Cajun Coast Visitor’s Bureau says the oldest charted harvest festival in the state began as an event to pay homage to shrimpers with the blessing of their boats and has grown to also honor the oil & gas industry.

Cut 8 (06) “…gas industry.”

There’s also plenty of music, food, arts and crafts, and fireworks.

The first week of college football kicks off tonight and that also means a boon to sports betting in Louisiana. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says in the first half of this year one-point-four billion dollars in legal sports bets were made, which has generated 16.5 million dollars in tax revenue for the state.

Cut 11 (12)  “…that goal.”

Johns says most sports bets are made on a person’s phone or computer, with mobile sports betting accounting for 80 percent of the sports betting business.

And Tropical Storm Danielle has formed in the Atlantic and it’s expected to strengthen into the first hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic season. It’s not expected to impact Louisiana whatsoever and poses no immediate threat to land. Last month was the first August without a named storm in the Atlantic since 1997.

12:30 LRN Newscast Sept 1

The first week of the college football season kicks off tonight and two new sports betting parlors open today in Louisiana. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says there’s the Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans and the DraftKings sportsbook at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles. He says the L’Auberge Casino in Baton Rouge is expected to open its Barstool sportsbook soon.

Cut 10 (10) “..their market” 

The Shrimp and Petroleum Festival in Morgan City kicks off today. Carrie Stansbury, Executive Director of the Cajun Coast Visitor’s Bureau says the annual event includes continuous music, plenty of seafood, along with arts and crafts. She says Sunday however is their traditional day.

Cut 7 (07) “…fireworks at night.” 

It’s the oldest charted harvest festival in the state.

There’s big economic news to report for a rural part of north Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

 

11:30 LRN Newscast Sept 1

The first week of the college football season kicks off tonight and two new sports betting parlors open today in Louisiana. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says there’s the Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans and last night he toured the DraftKings sportsbook at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles…

Cut 9 (10)  “…it’s huge.”

And L’Auberge in Baton Rouge is expected to open its Barstool sportsbook soon.

WestRock has broken ground on a 97-million-dollar expansion at its paper mill in Hodge. State Representative Jack McFarland says Jackson Parish mill will expand and modernize the facility which produces high-quality containerboard used in manufacturing containers…

Cut 4  (05) “…decade or two.”

The mill began operations in 1928.

Morgan City is gearing up for the first Shrimp and Petroleum Festival since 2019. The festival was canceled the last two years due to the pandemic and Ida. Carrie Stansbury, Executive Director of the Cajun Coast Visitor’s Bureau says the annual event celebrates two of the state’s largest industries.

Cut 6 (07) “…culture of our community.” 

The five-day event, which kicks off today and wraps up Labor Day.

The Ad Council and the U.S Department of veteran affairs launches the “Don’t Wait Reach Out” campaign to assist veterans with mental health issues. Veteran’s Affairs executive director Lisa Kearney says normalizing the discussion of suicide is the objective of the campaign the website VA.gov forward slash reach offers instant support.  

Cut 12 (11) “…to get to us.”