4:45 LRN Sportscast

No football this weekend, but there is plenty of college hoops. The LSU Tigers will try to snap its three-game losing streak when they visit South Carolina at noon on Saturday. This game has been moved up from its original five o’ clock tip time, because of a snowstorm threatening the east coast.

Louisiana Tech is also on the road as they play Sam Houston at 9 PM on Saturday night in a game that will be televised by ESPN 2. The Bearkcats have won five in a row.

ULM has lost 12 straight after losing by three points to Georgia Southern on Friday. The Warhawks will try again on Saturday at 2 PM against Coastal Carolina.

The Ragin Cajuns host Georgia Southern at 3 PM.

McNeese looks for its fourth straight win as the Cowboys visit rival Lamar.

The Lady Techsters have won seven in a row and they host Jacksonville State on Saturday at 2 PM. The sixth ranked LSU women’s basketball team has won six in a row and they will host 24th ranked Alabama on Sunday at 11 AM.

 

We are getting closer to another college baseball season. LSU baseball had one of the best pitching staffs in the country last season. Not only did the Tigers have great starters in Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, but they also had several reliable relievers. LSU pitching coach Nate Yeskie says junior left-handed pitcher Santiago Garcia, a transfer from Oregon, is going to be a key arm out of the bullpen this year.

Cut 16 (15) “…above average pitches.”

Louisiana Tech baseball has been picked to finish second in Conference USA. Dallas Baptist is the preseason favorite than it’s the Bulldogs, followed by Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State and Western Kentucky. Bulldogs closer Blake Hooks has been named to the Conference USA preseason All-Conference team.

3:30 LRN Newscast

More cold air is on the way and temperatures will fall well below the freezing mark on Saturday and Sunday morning. The state health department says the winter storm is responsible for nine deaths, some of the victims died as a result of hypothermia because of the extended power outages. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says this second round of extremely cold air is concerning for the thousands who still do not have power…

Cut 14 (14) “…available”

Two middle school students who just got off a school bus were among eight people injured in a two-vehicle crash in Thibodaux yesterday afternoon….

Cut 10 (07) “…the Honda”

State Police Trooper Henry Perez says a vehicle hit the two kids who were on the side of the road after trying to get back in the proper lane after traveling in the wrong lane in a no passing zone.

The Rockin’1000 musicians are getting ready for tomorrow night’s big show in the Superdome. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 15 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana Works says the state has set a record for nonfarm employment, with just over two million people employed. Louisiana Works Deputy Secretary Osmar Padilla says the job sectors of private education and health services has added 15-thousand jobs over the last year…

Cut 7 (09) “….machinists”

1:30 LRN Newscast

A two-vehicle crash in Thibodaux on Thursday afternoon sends eight people to the hospital, including two children who just got off a school bus. Andre Champagne has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

The search is on for six escaped inmates from the River Bend Detention Center in Lake Providence. The East Caroll Parish Sheriff’s Office along with several other surrounding agencies are searching for the escapees. Three of the escapees are accused of murder.

 

The latest employment numbers released by the state agency, Louisiana Works, shows strong employment growth in the state with records set for seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment and private sector employment. Louisiana Works Deputy Secretary Osmar Padilla says most of Louisiana’s metro areas are seeing growth….

Cut 8 (08) “…or anything”

The Baton Rouge area is leading the way with six-thousand new jobs over the last year.

It will be very cold weekend and there are multiple Mardi Gras parades in southeast Louisiana on Saturday. There’s also Rockin 1000 in the Superdome. One-thousand musicians are coming together to play iconic rocks songs. It’s the first time the Rockin 1000 has had a performance in the U-S. Kelly Schulz is a spokesperson for New Orleans and Company…

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is in Mobile this week, along with other coaches and personnel, to evaluate players at the Senior Bowl. Loomis says this year’s draft class has an abundance of quality players.

Cut 19 (16) “…really good thing.”

The Buffalo Bills are hiring former Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael as their next offensive coordinator. Carmichael was with the Saints from 2006-2023, spending most of his time in New Orleans as the offensive coordinator. Carmichael served as an offensive assistant for the Denver Broncos under Sean Payton for the last two seasons.

Last night, the sixth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team extended its win streak to six games after defeating Arkansas 92-70. LSU is back at it on Sunday as they host No. 24 Alabama at 11 a.m.

In 2025, LSU baseball had one of the best pitching staffs in the entire country. Not only did the Tigers have great starters in Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, but they also had several reliable relievers. LSU pitching coach Nate Yeskie says one of the best pitchers in the fall has been left-handed sophomore Ethan Plog, a junior college transfer from Iowa Western Community College.

Cut 17 (15)  “…comes into play.”

The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team won their seventh consecutive game last night, defeating Kennesaw State 72-44.

McNeese women’s basketball has now won 10 straight games after the Cowgirls took down Stephen F. Austin 60-54 in overtime last night.

The LSU men’s basketball team travels to Columbia tomorrow to take on South Carolina. The game was originally scheduled for 5 p.m. but has been moved up to noon due to forecasted snow.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The sixth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team won its sixth straight last night, beating Arkansas 92-70. Six players scored in double figures. Flau’jae Johnson had 17 points.

The Lady Techsters won their seventh straight, 72-44 over Kennesaw State. McNeese won its 10th straight as they knocked off Stephen F Austin in O-T 70 to 64. Southern stayed in a first place tie in the SWAC by beating Jackson State 67-43.

The Ragin Cajuns men’s team beat Georgia State 82-72.

The college baseball season is two weeks away and LSU pitching coach Nate Yeskie says Gavin Guidry is ready after missing last season with a back injury…

Cut 18 (14) “…given day”

 

The Senior Bowl is Saturday and former LSU Tiger receiver Chris Hilton will compete in his fourth all-star game. Hilton only caught ten passes in his senior season, so he’s trying hard to impress NFL scouts…

Cut 26 (15) “….main goal”

Hilton is on the National roster, while former LSU Q-B Garrett Nussmeier is on the American roster. Saints G-M Mickey Loomis admits it’s a unique situation to evaluate Nuss when his Dad is the Saints offensive coordinator…

Cut 20 (20) “…can’t remember it”

5:30 LRN Newscast

Some people in northeast Louisiana may have to wait a couple more days to get power restored. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The state health department has confirmed a ninth death as a result of the winter storm. The DeSoto Parish coroner says a 74-year-old man died at his home following an extended power outage. Four of the nine winter-storm related deaths were residents of DeSoto Parish.

 

Many movers and shakers from Louisiana are in the nation’s capital for D-C Mardi Gras. It is one of the largest political networking events of the year. Lapolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says with this year being an election year, the candidates running for U.S. Senate and the now-open fifth congressional district seat will use this event to secure campaign donations.

Cut 12 (11) “…in touch with.”

Many believe we are heading for another federal government shutdown – at least a partial one. Senate Democrats appear unwilling to fund Homeland Security. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says even if there is a partial government shutdown, don’t expect the ICE and Border Patrol raids to end at least for the time being – Homeland Security has enough money to keep them going for now.

Cut 5 (08) “…tremendous immediate impact.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU men’s basketball team dropped to 1-7 in conference play after losing 80-66 to Mississippi State last night. Head coach Matt McMahon now has a 15-57 record in the SEC. McMahon says he thought his team was ready to play after nearly beating No. 20 Arkansas last week.

Cut 28 (12): “that winning requires.”

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin is in Shreveport today continuing his recruiting efforts, visiting Evangel Christian Academy and Captain Shreve High School.

Last night, the Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team completed a sweep over UTEP, defeating the Miners 69-59. Junior guard DJ Dudley led the team in scoring with 20 points.

The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team looks to win its seventh straight game tonight as the Lady Techsters host Kennesaw State tonight at 6:30 p.m.

The sixth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team is currently riding a five-game winning streak, and the Lady Tigers look to make it six straight tonight against Arkansas at 7 p.m. Through seven SEC games, sophomore point guard Jada Richard is averaging 13 points per game. Head coach Kim Mulkey says playing the point guard in her system comes with several responsibilities.

Cut 18 (18)  “…you shoot it.”

McNeese women’s basketball looks to extend their nine-game winning streak to double digits tonight as the Cowgirls are at Stephen F. Austin at 6:30 p.m.

The ULM men’s basketball team announced a schedule change for their game against Georgia Southern. The Warhawks will now host the Eagles at 2 p.m. on Friday at Grambling State’s Willis Reed Court at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center due to the ice storm that left Northeast Louisiana without power.

LRN PM Newscall January 29

The clock is ticking towards another partial government shutdown. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Some people in northeast Louisiana may have to wait a couple more days to get power restored. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

Could we be headed for another government shutdown? That could happen – more specifically a partial shutdown – if the Senate fails to give its approval to a House-passed funding package by midnight tomorrow night. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says the six pending bills were cruising towards passage – but then, something happened last weekend.

Cut 3 (08) “…that want changes.”

Democrats are saying they’ll pass the budgets for the other five departments, but they want to pull Homeland Security from the package, tying its funding approval to Republicans agreeing to a series of conditions, including ending roving patrols and establishing a universal code of conduct. Hogan says whereas Republicans might not have previously acquiesced to those demands, this time they might.

Cut 4 (11) “…in this case.”

Hogan says even if there is a partial government shutdown, don’t expect the ICE and Border Patrol raids to end at least for the time being – Homeland Security has enough money to keep them going for now.

Cut 5 (08) “…tremendous immediate impact.”

Hogan points out that if Democrats are successful in separating Homeland Security from the six-bill package, the funding bill would have to go back to the House for its approval, and the House is in recess for the rest of the week.

____________________________________________

Some people in northeast Louisiana have been waiting a long time to get their power restored. Now, Entergy says they may have to wait a little longer. It says it may be as late as Saturday before it can restore power to everyone. Nyka (NIGH-kah) Scott, the vice president of customer service for Entergy, says that’s because the task was a lot more daunting than originally anticipated.

Cut 6 (09) “…than we thought.”

Scott says restoring power in winter conditions is very challenging; for example, yesterday, workers found live powerlines underneath banks of ice. She says they don’t have those types of challenges following summer storms.

Cut 7 (08) “…it’s warm weather.”

Scott says while crews have made progress, there is a ways to go, and they’re working overtime to get everyone’s lights back on.

She says Entergy has opened information centers to help customers who are dealing with a prolonged outage.

Cut 8 (12) “…their areas.”

______________________________________

A teenage boy is arrested in connection with the killing of an elderly woman inside her Morehouse Parish apartment. On Tuesday evening, 73-year-old Ruby Lee Peterson was found stabbed to death inside her apartment in Bastrop. Chief Deputy James Mardis with the Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Office says the following day, deputies arrested 17-year-old Amir Dowles.

Cut 9 (06)  “…with the investigation.”

Mardis says deputies quickly zeroed in on Dowles as their suspect.

Cut 10 (05) “…with a suspect.”

Mardis says the only connection that investigators have established at this time between Dowles and Peterson is that they lived in the same apartment complex, the Eden Apartments.

Cut 11 (06) “…knew him, yes.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

Entergy is reporting nearly 50-thousand people are still without power and customers in parishes like Union, Ouachita, East Carroll, Morehouse and West Carroll may have to wait until Saturday before the power is restored. Entergy’s vice president of customer service, Nyka Scott says they have opened information centers to help customers who are dealing with a prolonged outage. She says these are places where customers can charge devices and access assistance.

Cut 8 (12) “…their areas.”

A 73-year-old woman was stabbed to death in her apartment in Bastrop and a 17-year-old has been charged in her murder. Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Chief Deputy James Mardis says they do not know why Amier Dolwes killed Ruby Lee Peterson. The two lived in the same apartment complex…

Cut 11 (06) “…knew him yes”

 

Louisiana had a net population gain last year. The U.S. Census Bureau says between July 1st, 2024, and June 30th, 2025, Louisiana added about 33-hundred people to its population total. Demographer Greg Rigamer says that net increase still does not get Louisiana’s population back to the level at the beginning of the decade.

Cut 21 (09) “…40-thousand people.”

Rigamer says that growth pales to the population gains seen in neighboring states like Texas, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina.

We could see a partial federal government shutdown if the Senate does not pass a House approved funding package. Democrats saying they’ll pass the budgets for the other five departments, but they want to pull Homeland Security from the package, tying its funding approval to Republicans agreeing to a series of conditions, including ending roving patrols and establishing a universal code of conduct. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says whereas Republicans might not have previously acquiesced to those demands, this time they might.

Cut 4 (11) “…in this case.”

12:30 LRN Newscast

Some people in northeast Louisiana have been waiting a long time to get their power restored. Now, Entergy says they may have to wait a little longer. It says it may be as late as Saturday before it can restore power to everyone. Nyka (NIGH-kah) Scott, the vice president of customer service for Entergy, says that’s because the task was a lot more daunting than originally anticipated.

Cut 6 (09) “…than we thought.”

Entergy has opened information centers to help customers who are dealing with a prolonged outage. These are places where customers can charge devices and access assistance.

A teenage boy is arrested in connection with the killing of an elderly woman inside her Morehouse Parish apartment. On Tuesday evening, 73-year-old Ruby Lee Peterson was found stabbed to death inside her apartment in Bastrop. Chief Deputy James Mardis with the Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Office says the following day, deputies arrested 17-year-old Amir Dowles.

Cut 9 (06)  “…with the investigation.”

 

The clock is ticking towards another partial government shutdown. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

According to police records, the Teacher of the Year at Broussard Middle School has been arrested on child sex abuse charges. Thirty-seven-year-old Christi Oster has been charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile and carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Lafayette Police say Oster had an inappropriate relationship with a former student.