Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

04.16.21
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6:30 LRN newscast April 16

Trooper Kaleb Reeves, son of former State Police Superintendent Kevin Reeves, receives the maximum penalty after an investigation finds his reckless driving caused a crash in Monroe that led to the death of a child and teenager last October. Master Trooper Michael Reichardt says Reeves is suspended for four and a half months without pay.
Cut 13 (09) “…hours.”
An LSP investigation determined Reeves was driving 20 miles over the speed limit, did not use his emergency lights, and violated policy with reckless driving.

The state health department reports one-million Louisiana residents have completed the COVID-19 vaccine series. Meanwhile, State Director of the Louisiana AARP Denise Bottcher says
Cut 4 (09)“….news.”
But State Health Officer Joe Kanter says they are seeing an uptick in young people suffering from COVID-like illnesses.

The Bayou Classic is set for this Saturday in Shreveport at Independence Stadium. Matt Doyle spoke with the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau President about what this means for the region…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

04.15.21
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LRN PM Newscall April 15

The search for a missing LSU student has reached a sad conclusion. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

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LSU still has not written mandatory sexual misconduct reporting policy despite the ongoing scandal. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

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LSU says the body found in the Mississippi River in St. John the Baptist Parish on Tuesday is that of missing student Kori Gauthier of Opelousas.  The 19-year-old disappeared on April 7th and her car was found on top of the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. Her uncle Spencer Gauthier posted a video on social media thanking everyone who has been praying for his family

Cut 3 (09)  “…folks.” 

Police do not believe foul play is involved in Gautier’s death. LSU Police Chief Bart Thompson says based on cell phone tracking, video footage, and other evidence shared Kori’s parents, they have concluded that were was no criminal activity. Gauthier did not discuss what was going on in his niece’s life…

Cut 4 (09) “…give up.” 

Spencer Gauthier closed out his video post by asking everyone to listen to Stevie Wonder’s song “These Three Words”….

Cut 5  (08)  “…those words.”

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Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver is calling out LSU Baton Rouge amidst the sexual misconduct scandal and says they are attempting to skirt attention and place it on LSU Shreveport instead. Tarver says it’s clear that LSU Baton Rouge has not even touched the surface of mishandlings.

Cut 6 (10) “…nor fair.”

Shreveport Medical School Chancellor Dr. G.E. Ghali was placed on leave after allegations of sexual misconduct. Tarver says but the chancellor at the New Orleans has received more complaints than Ghali but was not placed on leave.

Cut 7 (12) “…us different.”

Tarver believes LSU Baton Rouge could be shifting the focus of the scandal to Shreveport in an effort to increase funding for medical facilities at the main campus.

Cut 8 (09) “…move forward”

Tarver also stated that LSU Shreveport does not have enough representation on the LSU Board of Supervisors.

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The House Appropriations committee discovers LSU still has not written a mandatory reporting policy requiring employees to properly report sexual misconduct cases. The discovery was made after Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle questioned LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan…

Cut 9 (13) “…policy.”

Galligan says while they have not written the policy it has been “made clear going forward”. He says the policy hasn’t been written yet “because they have been writing so much other stuff,” and that they would write it into policy.

New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman pointed out the University of Louisiana System has already written and implemented that policy, so why hasn’t LSU?

Cut 10 (12) “..over.” 

Freeman also has legislation pending that would establish a mandatory reporting policy at all state schools.

Galligan was asked if he is comfortable with how the students are perceiving the school’s handling of Title Nine. Galligan says they’ve got to earn student’s trust, but…

Cut 11 (12) “…happy”

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Crews are continuing their search today for 12 workers aboard a lift boat that capsized in the Gulf of Mexico just south of Port Fourchon Tuesday. Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Carlos Galarza (Guh-lar-zuh) says a dive team has been brought in, but stormy weather has delayed their efforts

Cut 12 (08)   “…have commenced.” 

Six people from Seacor Power were rescued alive and one person’s body was recovered from the Gulf of Mexico yesterday. He’s been identified as 63-year-old David Ledet of Thibodaux. Galarza says most of the vessel that capsized is underwater, which is why a dive team was brought in

Cut 13 (03)“….any survivors”

Galarza says air and surface assets are also being used in the search, which is expected to continue for the time being…

Cut 14 (06) “…and for yours.” 

04.15.21
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU baseball team looks to build on last weekend’s series victory over Kentucky when they host 10th ranked South Carolina for a three-game series starting tonight. U-S-C also has the third-best team ERA in the SEC and LSU has the second-worst batting average in SEC games at .237, but the bats showed signed of life in the series win over the Wildcats. Catcher Hayden Travinski from Shreveport on the players’ mindset at the plate.

Cut 20 (12) “about it”

First pitch for tonight’s game is scheduled for 6:30.

The Pelicans three-game winning streak came to an end last night as they fell to the New York Knicks 116-106. Former Pelican Julius Randle led the way for the Knicks, scoring 32 points on the night. Brandon Ingram poured in 28 points in the loss and Zion Williamson added 25.

Grambling State and Southern will do battle in the Bayou Classic on Saturday.  While no band and only limited fans are allowed to attend the game, Grambling head coach Broderick Fobbs says this will still be a big-time game.

Cut 16 (12) “looking forward to it”

The NCAA Division One Council has voted to end the requirement that student-athletes sit out a year when transferring to another school. This rule that takes effect next season will allow undergraduate athletes to transfer one-time without having to sit out a full season.

In basketball news, LSU guard Aundre Hyatt has officially entered the transfer portal. Hyatt started 15 games for the Tigers and was a key contributor in LSU’s win over St. Bonaventure in the NCAA tournament.

04.15.21
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9:30 LRN Newscast April 15

Crews are continuing their search today for 12 workers that were aboard a lift boat that capsized off the coast of Port Fourchon Tuesday. Stormy weather along the coast has hampered search efforts. KATC-TV reports at least four of the missing men are from Acadiana. A Slidell woman is praying for her son Chaz Morales to come home.

Senator Bill Cassidy says a counter-proposal to President Biden’s infrastructure plan is being drafted…
cut 1 (29) “…Matt Doyle”

An LSU survey of 781 adults finds about 75-percent of the respondents support more spending for early childhood education and 53-percent support raising taxes to increase spending on childcare for all families. Director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Center Doctor Michael Henderson says we’ll see if the Louisiana Legislature is willing to make the investment…
cut 9 (09) “…on this”

The national transportation research group, TRIP, says Louisiana’s poor roads are costing motorists seven point six billion dollars a year. TRIP Director of Policy and Research Rocky Moretti says that the dollar figure includes operating costs, traffic accidents and congested related delays and all of that is a factor when setting auto insurance rates…
cut 12 (06) “…part of that”
TRIP says driving on poor roads in the state costs the average driver $667 annually in vehicle operating costs

04.15.21
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8:30 LRN newscast April 15

The search for the 12 missing crew members from a 129-foot lift boat that overturned off the coast of Port Fourchon enters a third day. Nineteen people were on board the Seacor Power when seven to nine-foot waves capsized the vessel. One person is confirmed dead and six people were rescued.

A national transportation research group says road and bridge conditions in the Bayou State are costing motorists $7.6 billion annually. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is not a fan of President Biden’s two-point-two trillion-dollar American Jobs Plan, because he says the legislation that started as an infrastructure spending bill doesn’t provide money for key highway projects in Louisiana…
cut 6 (06) “….infrastructure” (2x)
Cassidy says lawmakers are working on an alternative infrastructure bill.

The House Civil Law committee approves legislation that would allow victims of sexual assault to terminate their rental agreement before their lease is set to end. Supporters say allowing survivors of abuse to leave their apartment early can help them get away from their abuser and it also helps in the healing process. The measure passed unanimously, but Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman questioned whether this legislation could expand to victims of a home invasion or other crimes…
cut 15 (10) “…Pandora’s box”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

04.15.21
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7:30 LRN Newscast

Authorities confirm the body found in the Mississippi River near Reserve is that of the missing LSU student and Opelousas native Kori Gauthier. She disappeared on April 7th and her car was found on top of the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. Foul play is not suspected.

Legislation allowing sexual assault victims to break their rental lease early unanimously passes out of a House Committee. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 3 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Senator Bill Cassidy says lawmakers will present an alternative proposal to the President’s 2.2 trillion-dollar infrastructure plan. Cassidy says the bulk of President Biden’s bill, named the American Jobs Plan, isn’t actually infrastructure spending.
Cut 4 (10)“…country”
Cassidy says the President’s proposal has funding for new housing, clean water initiatives, green energy infrastructure, paid leave, elderly care, veterans’ health and more.

A report from the nonprofit group called TRIP has determined Louisiana’s roads cost the state’s drivers seven-point-six billion dollars a year. The Louisiana Coalition to Fix Our Roads director Erich Ponti says each year the cost of the state’s poor roads on drivers continues to rise…
cut 11 (08) “….drivers”
The report says nearly half of the state’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition and that’s leading to higher vehicle operating costs, congestion, and more crashes.

04.15.21
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6:45 LRN Sportscast April 15

The LSU baseball team looks to build on last weekend’s series victory over Kentucky when they host 10th ranked South Carolina for a three-game series starting tonight. The Gamecocks are 22 and 9 overall and 8-and-4 in the SEC. U-S-C also has the third-best team ERA in the league. Coach Paul Mainieri says the Gamecocks pitching staff is loaded with power arms.
cut 19 (20) “…strikeouts an inning”
LSU has the second-worst batting average in SEC games at .237.

The Pelicans scored just 17 points in the fourth quarter and lost to the Knicks 116 to 106 last night to end their three-game losing streak. Zion Williamson 25 points in a losing effort.

Free agency is coming to college athletics as the NCAA Division One Council has voted to end the requirement that student-athletes sit out a year when transferring to another school. Starting next season all athletes will be allowed to transfer one time before graduating without having to miss a year of competition.

In basketball, LSU guard Aundre Hyatt has entered the transfer portal. He started 15 games last season and averaged four points and three rebounds a game.

Southern and Grambling continue to prepare for Saturday’s Bayou Classic in Shreveport. Tigers Coach Broderick Fobbs on what he sees from the Jags…
cut 18 (17) “….want to do”
Grambling is 0-3 in the spring and they haven’t played a game in nearly a month because of COVID cases within the program.

04.15.21
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6:30 LRN newscast April 15

Twelve workers from a lift boat that capsized Tuesday afternoon in the Gulf of Mexico near Port Fourchon, remain missing. Stormy weather along the coast has hampered search efforts.

LSU says the body found in the Mississippi River in St. John the Baptist Parish is that of missing student Kori Gauthier of Opelousas. Police do not believe foul play is involved. Her car was parked on the Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge.

Senator Bill Cassidy says a counter-proposal to President Biden’s infrastructure plan is being drafted…
cut 1 (29) “…Matt Doyle”

The poor conditions of roads and bridges in Louisiana are costing motorists $7.6 billion a year. That’s according to TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit. They put a dollar figure on vehicle operating costs, traffic accidents, and congested related delays. Erich Ponti with Louisiana Coalition to Fix Our Roads says the state is long overdue for more funding.
Cut 10 (07) “..since 1984.”
There is a bill in the legislative session to raise the state’s gasoline tax, but it faces opposition.

About three out of four Louisiana residents support investing more dollars into early childhood education. That’s according to a poll done by LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab. Director Doctor Michael Henderson says 57-support raising taxes to increase spending on childcare for low-income families…
cut 8 (08) “…childhood education”

04.14.21
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4:45 LRN Sportscast April 14

A big four-game series starts on Friday for 13th ranked Louisiana Tech as they host Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles have won the last two Conference USA baseball tournament championships. But trail the Bulldogs for first place in the West Division this year by a game and a half. Tech took three of four from Southern Miss earlier this season and Coach Lane Burroughs knows they will be ready to play…
Cut 17 (18) “…retain it.”
The Golden Eagles had won seven in a row before getting shut out by South Alabama on Tuesday.

LSU will start its SEC series tomorrow night against 11th ranked South Carolina. The Gamecocks have won three in a row and coming off a series victory over Missouri. South Carolina has the third-best team ERA in the SEC and Wes Clarke leads the league in home runs with 15.

Southern and Grambling are preparing for Saturday’s 47th annual Bayou Classic which will take place in Shreveport. The Jaguars are three and one in this unique spring season, while the Tigers are 0-and-3 and they have not played since March 20th because of COVID issues. Southern Coach Dawson Odums knows the Tigers will be hungry for a victory…
cut 19 (13) “….for us”
Kick off from Independence Stadium is at 1:30.

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt has a bill waiting to be heard in the ongoing regular session that would require the National Anthem to be played before all sporting events at state-funded facilities. Hewitt says the Anthem is a unifying force and she recalls her first trip to a sporting event following nine-eleven…
cut 24 (08) “….our lungs”
Earlier in the NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks were not playing the national anthem before their games until Commissioner Adam Silver ordered them to do so.

04.14.21
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LRN PM Newscall April 14

One crew member is dead and 12 are still missing after a 129-foot lift boat capsized off of Port Fourchon in the Gulf of Mexico yesterday. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Congresswoman Julia Letlow was sworn into office this morning to represent the state’s 5th Congressional District. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Brooke Thorington”  

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The search is still on for 12 missing crewmembers of a SeaCor lift boat that capsized seven miles off the coast of Port Fourchon Tuesday afternoon.

Six of the ship’s original 19 crewmembers have been rescued so far, along with one confirmed death. Coast Guard Captain Will Watson thanks every civilian who’s offered to help in the search…

Cut 3 (09)  “…folks.” 

Four Coast Guard boats, one helicopter, at least four good Samaritan vessels, and other fixed-wing aircraft are participating in the search.

The SeaCor Power is believed to have started taking on water around 4:30 PM Saturday as it encountered a “microburst” of unexpectedly bad weather.

Cut 4 (10) “…circumstance.” 

Watson describes what a lift boat is…

Cut 5  (13)  “…rise.”

Half of the 129-foot vessel remains submerged. The boat is designed to carry thousands of barrels of oil from offshore platforms. Watson says there is no indication right now of any environmental impacts from the incident.

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It’s another day of severe thunderstorms, hail, and flash flooding for areas of the Bayou State. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a slow-moving cold front is responsible for the April showers and they’ll stay with us for the remainder of the week.

Cut 6 (12) “.. of Louisiana.”

Keim says the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for all of southern Louisiana, and as far north as Alexandria until noon Thursday.

Cut 7 (11) “…Friday.”

Several parts of the state have experienced hail also, Keim says the National Weather Service is urging citizens to remain weather alert for the rest of the week.

Cut 8 (10) “…hand and hand”

The National Weather Service is also reminding drivers to turn around don’t drown due to the excessive amounts of rain causing flash floods.

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Alexandria Police have made an arrest in the murder of 19-year-old Courtney Coco, who was killed in 2004. Coco was last seen at her home two days before her body was discovered in an abandoned building in southwest Texas. Alexandria Police Sergeant Josh Peppers says Detective Tanner Dryden was assigned to the case in 2018

Cut 9 (09) “..the case.”

45-year-old David Burns of Boyce has been charged with second-degree murder. Peppers hopes the arrest is a relief for those who knew Coco

Cut 10 (06) “..the family.” 

Coco’s death received national attention as NBC’s dateline featured the case last October. A multi-series podcast called “Real Life Real Crime” also provided the public details on the case.  Peppers says Detective Dryden put numerous hours into the investigation

Cut 11 (05) “.cold case”

Burns’s bond has been set at 500-thousand dollars.

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Congresswoman Julia Letlow took the oath of office this morning, filling the fifth district seat that was left vacant after the unexpected death of her husband Luke Letlow in December. Julia Letlow is the first Republican woman to represent Louisiana in Congress.

Cut 12 (12)   “…take office.” 

Letlow says she wants to assist farmers in the state, champion education, and assist with bringing broadband internet to the predominantly rural 5th district. She also wants to focus on recovery efforts with the pandemic.

Cut 13 (10)“…with you.”

Letlow says she wants to be part of a revival of honesty, integrity, and hard work in congress.

Cut 14 (06) “…and for yours.” 

Julia’s two children along with the other members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation were present for the ceremony. A runoff to fill Louisiana’s 2nd congressional seat is set for April 24th.