Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

12.05.25
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

Tonight is the semifinals of the high school football playoffs and there are several big games in the Monroe area. Top-seeded Ruston, who is looking to get to the Superdome for the fourth consecutive season will host Zachary in a rematch of the 2023 Division one non-select state title game.

The other semifinal game in that bracket is Neville versus Ouachita Parish. The Tigers beat the Lions by one point in week eight of the season. Sterlington hosts St James in a rematch of last year’s Division three non-select state title game won by the Panthers.

At Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Tulane hosts North Texas in the American Athletic Conference Championship game. The winner will get a spot in the 12-team college football playoff. Green Wave Coach Jon Sumrall is looking for a big game from his 22-year-old quarterback Jake Retzlaff…

Cut 17 (09) “…big deal”

Kick off is at 7 PM.

LSU has announced football season ticket costs will remain the same for 2026. The LSU Board of Supervisors approved a price increase for season tickets, but after the bad loss to Texas A&M, Governor Jeff Landry said the board should rethink that vote and they did.

Four months after being blind-sided by the resignation of its athletic director, ULM has its new man. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

St. Thomas More High School Quarterback Cole Bergeron has signed with Georgia Tech.

12.05.25
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3:30 LRN Newscast

A 13-year-old is facing a second-degree murder charge after allegedly fatally shooting a 21-year-old family member in Leesville. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says the shooting happened overnight (Friday morning) in the midst of a verbal argument…

Cut 09 (11) “..21-year-old”

The victim has been identified as Kavin Simmons Junior. The juvenile was taken into custody at the scene without incident.

A reward of 35-hundred dollars is being offered for anyone  that provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who fatally shot a black bear in Concordia Parish last weekend.

Cut 13 (08) “…offering a thousand”

That’s LDWF Sergeant Cole Cupip who says the fatally shot black bear was found in the Richard V Yancy Wildlife Management Area.

 

Louisiana’s largest ever marsh creation project is completed. Don Molino reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Don Molino.”

The nation’s number one high school prospect in the Class of 2026 has signed with LSU. Lamar Brown from University High School in Baton Rouge turned in his paperwork on the final day of the early signing period. Brown is expected to play on the defensive line. Yesterday LSU officially signed the nation’s highest rated defensive tackle, Richard Anderson, from Edna Karr High School.

12.05.25
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1:30 LRN Newscast

This week the ribbon was cut on the state’s largest marsh creation project. It’s taken three years to re-create 27-hundred acres of marsh near Shell Beach in Lake Borne….

Cut 4 (06) “…three times over”

That’s executive director of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Michael Hare, who says this project can help limit storm surge into he greater New Orleans area and it should bring more ducks to the area.

Netflix has announced a deal to buy Warner Brothers and HBO. Host of the Tech Gumbo podcast, Haggai Davis, says this 72-billion dollar acquisition will likely result in a price hike for Netflix subscribers…

Cut 8 (10) “…dollars a month”

The deal still needs regulatory approval, and the Trump administration reportedly looks at this acquisition with heavy skepticism.

 

A 13-year-old accused of killing a 21-year-old family member during a verbal dispute in Leesville is in a juvenile detention facility in Alexandria. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says it will be up to district attorney Terry Lambright to determine if the 13-year-old will be charged as an adult…

Cut 11 (09) “…of the subject”

The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Kavin Simmons.

A reward of 35-hundred dollars is being offered for anyone  that provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who fatally shot a black bear in Concordia Parish last weekend.

Cut 13 (08) “…offering a thousand”

That’s LDWF Sergeant Cole Cupip who says the fatally shot black bear was found in the Richard V Yancy Wildlife Management Area.

12.05.25
by

11:30 LRN Newscast

A 13-year-old is facing a second-degree murder charge after allegedly fatally shooting a 21-year-old family member in Leesville. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says the shooting happened overnight (Friday morning) in the midst of a verbal argument…

Cut 09 (11) “..21-year-old”

The victim has been identified as Kavin Simmons Junior. The juvenile was taken into custody at the scene without incident.

Netflix has announced that it has purchased Warner Brothers. Haggai Davis, the host of the radio show TechGumbo, says with that purchase, Netflix is also acquiring HBO and the streaming service HBO Max.

Cut 6 (09) “…’Stranger Things’ shows.”

Davis says Netflix subscribers can expect a price hike after the acquisition is completed in the second half of next year.

Four months after being blind-sided by the resignation of its athletic director, ULM has its new man. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

LSU could lose defensive coordinator Blake Baker. Baker is reportedly poised to be the next head coach at Tulane. Former LSU and La Tech assistant Joe Sloan will reportedly be the new offensive coordinator at Kentucky.

12.05.25
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

Number-21 Tulane hosts number-24 North Texas tonight in the American Conference Championship game, with the winner likely gaining an invitation to the College Football Playoff. The Mean Green come into the matchup with the top offense in the nation, averaging over 46 points a game. Green Wave Head coach Jon Sumrall has confidence his defense can slow them down…

Cut 16 (06) “…end for sure.”

Two huge matchups in New Orleans highlight tonight’s semifinal action on the select side of the high school football playoffs. Top-seeded Edna Karr, ranked eighth in the country by MaxPreps, will host fourth-seeded Catholic. The Cougars beat the Bears in the semis by two points last year, and the LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett expects another close game.

Cut 13 (10)  “…in this one”

There are big games in Monroe tonight on the non-select side as Ruston hosts Zachary, Ouachita Parish is at Neville and St. James visits Sterlington.

 

The fifth ranked LSU women’s basketball team fell behind 17 to 3 at Duke last night but stormed back and ended up winning comfortably 93 to 77. The Lady Tigers had six players score in double figures led by Senior Flau’jae Johnson who had 18 points, five rebounds and three assists. Jada Richard from Opelousas had six points on the night…

Cut 22 (10) “…do whatever we want”

LSU is at UNO on Sunday afternoon.

In recruiting news…Four-star edge rusher Trenton Henderson has signed with LSU. Auburn and Florida State made a strong push to sign Henderson, who is ranked as the seventh best player in Florida according to 24-7 sports.

 

LSU could lose defensive coordinator Blake Baker. Baker is reportedly poised to be the next head coach at Tulane. Former LSU and La Tech assistant Joe Sloan will reportedly be the new offensive coordinator at Kentucky.

12.05.25
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10:30 LRN Newscast

The massive Lake Borgne Marsh Creation Project in St. Bernard Parish is finished. Michael Hare, the executive director of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, says the five-year construction project restored 31-hundred acres of marsh along the lake’s south shore.

Cut 3 (11) “…New Orleans area.”

The Louisiana Community and Technical College System has named a new president. Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson will take the helm at the beginning of the year. He says with all the economic development projects happening in the state, it’s now more important than ever to have people trained to do the jobs associated with them. That’s where the LCTC schools come in.

Cut 8 (11) “…to do that.”

 

Two huge matchups in New Orleans highlight tonight’s semifinal action on the select side of the high school football playoffs. Catholic is at Edna Karr and John Curtis faces St. Augustine. The LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett says the Patriots are playing their best football of the season right now…

Cut 14 (11) “…fun to watch.”

There are big games in Monroe tonight on the non-select side as Ruston hosts Zachary, Ouachita Parish is at Neville and St. James visits Sterlington.

Speaking of Monroe, SJ Touhy is the new athletics director at ULM. This is Touhy’s first A-D job. He comes to Monroe after serving as Deputy Athletic Director of Development at Oral Roberts. Touhy says he chose ULM because it has a strong foundation to build on….

Cut 12 (07) :,,,build and grow”

Touhy says the key to winning in Monroe is winning the margins, He says they have to be better at small decisions about how the state is stewarding its money.

12.05.25
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6:45 LRN Sportscast

For the first time this season, the fifth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team did not score 100 points, but the Lady Tigers still improved to 9-0 after beating Duke 93-77. Flau’jae Johnson had 18 points as LSU shot 60 percent from the field.

LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker is reportedly set to become the next head coach at Tulane. Former LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan has reportedly been hired as the new O-C at Kentucky. And Billy Napier is headed back to the Sun Belt as he is expected to be named as the new head coach at James Madison.

ULM introduced 32-year-old S-J Touhy as its new athletics director.

Cut 10 (09) “…eligibility rules anymore.”

 

Two huge matchups in New Orleans highlight tonight’s semifinal action on the select side of the high school football playoffs. Catholic is at Edna Karr and John Curtis faces St. Augustine. The LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett says the Patriots are playing their best football of the season right now…

Cut 14 (11) “…fun to watch.”

Today is the final day of the early signing period. LSU has already signed the top offensive lineman in the state, Brysten Martinez from East Ascension High School. Texas pushed hard for Martinez, but Martinez says LSU hiring Lane Kiffin sealed the deal for him…

Cut 18 (09) “…with LSU already.”

Veteran linebacker DeMario Davis is the Saints candidate for the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

12.04.25
by

11:40 LRN Sportscast

On3.com ranks LSU’s 2026 recruiting class as the tenth best in the country. The Tigers have 16 commitments and ten players have officially signed including Lafayette Christian Academy wide receiver Brayden Allen…

Cut 17 (11) “…over here”

As of now, LSU does not have a quarterback in its high school recruiting class. They were trying to flip one of the top prep quarterbacks in the country. But Landon Duckworth from Alabama will sign with South Carolina this afternoon.

ULM signed 20 players yesterday, many of them are junior college players, including Christian Johnson a quarterback from Hutchinson Community College.

McNeese’s recruiting class is ranked as the best in the Southland Conference, it includes a three-star quarterback from Texas,  Brady Barrier.

_______________________________________________________________

Tomorrow it’s the semifinals of the high school football playoffs. Sixteen teams will advance to next week’s state championship games in the Superdome. There is a rematch tomorrow night of a state title game from year ago as St. James will visit Sterlington. The Panthers beat the Wildcats by a touchdown last year in the Division 3 non-select state title game. The LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett expects another close game…

Cut 14 (09) “…a crazy matchup”

Crazy game for the LSU men’s basketball team last night as they nearly blew a double digit lead on the road versus Boston College, but rallied at the end to tie it at regulation and the Tigers won it in overtime 78-69. LSU did not miss a shot in overtime, three for three from the field, one for one from three point territory and ten for ten from the free throw line.  LSU is 8-0.

12.04.25
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6:45 LRN Sportscast

Despite the coaching change, LSU could still have a top ten recruiting class. The Tigers 2026 class is currently ranked 10th by On3.com. Highlighting the class so far is Richard Anderson. The number one defensive tackle in the country out of Edna Karr, ended up signing on Wednesday despite reports saying he would wait to see who his position coach would be. ‘

In Acadiana, Lafayette Christian’s Bryaden Anderson signed after recently decommitting from Oklahoma. Anderson is glad he’s staying home…

Cut 16 (09) “…at LSU”

LSU men’s basketball improved to 8-0 as the Tigers beat Boston College 78 to 69 in O-T. The Tigers were down by five with five minutes to go. LSU forced overtime and won with Dee-dawn Thomas scoring 23 points to lead the way.

________________________________________________

Tomorrow night is the semifinals of the high school football playoffs, and several south Louisiana teams will head to north Louisiana in the hopes of playing in the Superdome next week. In Division One non-select, Zachary is at top seeded Ruston. The LHSAA Network’s Spencer Verrett says the Bearcats have beaten the Broncos the last three years in the postseason.

Cut 13 (10)  “…heading up there”

Some other intriguing south versus north matchups. In Division two non-select, Plaquemine is at top seeded North Desoto. St. James visits Sterlington in a rematch of last year’s division three non-select state championship game won by the Panthers. And in Division four non-select, fourth seeded Jeanerette is at top-seed Haynesville, while South Plaquemines visits Mangham.

La Tech men’s basketball lost last night, falling to Georgia Southern 77 to 69. Also the Cajuns fell to Lamar, while ULM beat Mississippi Valley State.

12.03.25
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17:30 LRN Newscast

As part of Operation Swamp Sweep comes Operation Catahoula Crunch. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

If you bought Great Value shredded cheese from Walmart, or the Target Store brand Good and Gather or Happy Farms by Aldi, Food Club and Always Save, throw that shredded cheese away. Great Lakes Cheese company has ordered a massive recall over metal fragment contamination.

 

Huge economic development news for St. Mary Parish as Saronic Technologies announces a 300-million dollar investment to expand the Franklin Shipyard so that the shipbuilder can build more autonomous boats for the Department of Defense and commercial companies. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says the expansion is expected to create 15-hundred direct new jobs and an additional 17-hundred indirect jobs, for a total of 32-hundred jobs…

Cut 5 (09) “…natural does”

LSU signed the nation’s best defensive tackle in the country on the opening day of the early signing period. Richard Anderson of Edna Karr will be a Tiger and so will his teammate, four-star safety Aiden Hall. Lee Brecheen of Louisiana Football Magazine on Hall…

Cut 7 (12) “…and hit”