6:45 LRN Sportscast January 28

The Saints are reportedly close to 100 million dollars over the salary cap, which means significant roster moves are likely needed in the offseason. General Manager Mickey Loomis admits the salary cap situation will be a challenge….
Cut 16 (11) “…the year after.”
But Loomis still expects the Saints to compete for championships, even if Drew Brees decides not to return for a 21st season.

The SEC has released its football schedule for 2021 and the Tigers are set to play seven home games and five road games, including the first-ever meeting with UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasedena, California to kick-off the season on September 4th. LSU’s SEC home games next fall will be against Auburn, Florida, Arkansas and Texas A-and-M, and they’ll visit Mississippi State, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Alabama on November sixth.
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The Pelicans took down a heavily depleted Wizards team last night 124-106. Against a COVID and injury-depleted frontcourt, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram both put up 32 points on highly efficient shooting. Steven Adams pitched in with 18 rebounds. Wizards All-NBA star guard Bradley Beal did torch New Orleans for 47 points and six assists, but only one other Wizard hit double digits.

In the Southland Conference, Northwestern State has its first two game winning streak of the year as the Demons downed UNO 81-73 as Trenton Massner had 21 points. Nicholls won it seventh straight as the Colonels dribbled past McNeese 76-69. Ty Gordon had 24 points. And Southeastern Louisiana defeated Central Arkansas 69-57.

Tonight, Louisiana Tech begins a two-game series against Southern Miss in Hattiesburg.

La Tech has also released its football schedule for 2021. The Bulldogs will play six games at home including the Conference USA opener against North Texas on September 25th. Tech kicks off the season at Mississippi State.

4:45 LRN Sportscast January 27

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis spoke for the first time today since the season ended and was asked about handling the offseason when they do not know if quarterback Drew Brees will retire or not. Loomis says they are not in a rush to get an answer from Brees…
cut 30 (30) “….there are knowns”
Over-the-cap-dot-com, says the Saints are projected to be 112-million dollars over the salary cap. Loomis says getting under the cap will be challenging, but it doesn’t mean the team will have to rebuild.

LSU released its 2021 football schedule today. The Tigers are scheduled to kick-off next season in Pasadena by playing at U-C-L-A. The first of seven home games will be September 11th versus McNeese. The SEC opener is September 25th at Mississippi State and the Tigers will once again face Alabama on the first Saturday in November.

A COVID outbreak following a wrestling tournament in Gonzales earlier this month has caused the LHSAA to cancel the rest of the regular season for wrestling. But LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says they plan to still hold the state championships February 25th and 26th at the Baton Rouge Raising Canes Center and strict measures will be in place…
cut 8 (08) “…social distancing”

The Pelicans will look to snap a three-game losing streak tonight as they host Washington. Last night LSU basketball ended a two-game losing streak with a 78-66 win over Texas A-and-M.

10:30 LRN Newscast January 27

Governor Edwards has asked the White House to support a three-billion dollar federal block grant allocation to help southwest Louisiana recover from Hurricanes Laura and Delta. A portion of the money would go to storm victims to help reimburse costs for repairing their damaged homes.

An estimated 47-thousand homes in 21 parishes were damaged by Hurricane Laura. Edwards says they still have 684 evacuees living in hotels in New Orleans and Lafayette…
Cut 9 (14) “…as well.”
Despite the struggles, Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter believes the recovery is ahead of schedule, based on the conversations he’s had with other mayors who have dealt with major natural disasters
Cut 10 (13) “…today.”

President Biden is expected to announce a moratorium on new oil and gas drilling licenses on federal lands and waters. Matt Doyle spoke with Senator Bill Cassidy…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Biden administration has announced that every state will see an increase in its COVID-19 vaccine allotment. For Louisiana it’s roughly a 16-percent increase and the President says they are increasing transparency…
cut 16 (10) “…going to get”

6:45 LRN Sportscast January 27

LSU has named Daronte Jones (duh-RAHN-tay) Jones as its new defensive coordinator. Jones apparently received a high recommendation from former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. Jones coached with Aranda at Wisconsin in 2015 and he’s coached in the NFL the last five seasons, spending this past season as the defensive backs coach for the Vikings. Jones has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract that pays him one-point-five million dollars a year.

Today at one o’ clock, the SEC will release the conference football schedule for the 2021 season.

The LSU men’s basketball team ended its two game losing streak last night with a 78-66 win over Texas A-and-M in College Station. The Tigers led by 17 in the first half and then trailed by six in the second half, before finishing the game on an 18-to nothing run. Cam Thomas led the way with 28 points.

Tonight, the Pelicans are scheduled to host Washington Wizards. New Orleans will look to snap a three-game losing streak.

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The LHSAA has informed member schools that its ending the regular season for wrestling. The news comes three days after the state department of health reported that over 20 COVID-19 cases have been linked to a wrestling tournament held at the Dixon Expo Center in Gonzlaes. The LHSAA still plans on holding the state wrestling championships in Baton Rouge the final weekend of February.

Nicholls is the favorite to win the Southland Confernece spring football season. The two-time defending co-champions received seven first place votes, while Sam Houston received six first-place votes. Southeastern Louisiana is picked to finish third followed by McNeese and Northwestern State who is fifth. The conference schedule begins February 20th.

Tonight in Southland basketball action…McNeese is at Nicholls while U-N-O visits Northwestern State while Southeaastern Louisiana looks for a much needed win at home against Central Arkansas.

4:45 LRN Sportscast January 26

LSU’s search for a new defensive coordinator is finally over as the Tigers have hired Daronte Jones, who spent last season as the defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron told T-Bob Hebert on ESPN 104-5 in Baton Rouge that former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda suggested Jones…
cut 4 (10) “…outstanding job for us”
When Aranda was the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin, Jones served on his staff in 2015. Since then, Jones has also coached with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins. The Maryland native has also coached in Louisiana before as a safeties coach for Nicholls State in 2002 and a defensive coordinator for two high schools, Franklin and Jeanerette.

In other coaching news…former ULM and McNeese head coach Matt Viator has reportedly joined Billy Napier’s staff as U-L Lafayette.
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The LSU men’s basketball team will look to snap a two-game losing streak tonight when they visit Texas A-and-M. The Tigers are coming off an 82-69 loss to Kentucky on Saturday. Before that game, the Bayou Bengals were bounced by Alabama 105-75. Coach Will Wade on what the Tigers need to improve on…
Cut 17 (12) “..same old story”
The Aggies have also lost two in a row. Tip-off is at 8 PM.

The Pelicans are 5-and-10 and looking to give some of their younger guards like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis more playing time. So the Athletic is reporting the Pels are looking at possibly trading Lonzo Ball and J-J Redick.

In baseball news, LSU pitchers Devin Fontenot and Jaden Hill have been named D1 Baseball pre-season All-Americans. Devin Fontenot returns for his senior season and will be one of the Tigers top arms out of the bullpen. Hill could potentially be the team’s Friday night starter.

###Updated LRN Newscall as Daronte Jones has been named as the new DC####

21,400 people had their COVID vaccine appointments at Ochsner canceled after the health system received a smaller supply than anticipated. Taylor Sharp has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp”  

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Articles of Impeachment against former President Trump have been delivered to the US Senate. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (30) ….I’m Matt Doyle”  

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LSU has hired Minnesota Vikings Defensive Backs coach Daronte Jones as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Head coach Ed Orgeron joined Off The Bench with T-Bob Hebert on ESPN 104.5 in Baton Rouge and he came away impressed with Jones after their interview…

Cut 3 (11)  “…same fronts.”

Even though former defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is now the head coach at Baylor, Orgeron still keeps in contact with him and says he’s the one who recommended Jones.

Cut 4 (10) “…outstanding job for us.” 

LSU still has a couple of other holes on its coaching staff. But Orgeron plans to have the entire defensive staff completed very soon.

Cut 5  (11) “..pretty soon.” 

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Ochsner Health System has been forced to reschedule 21,400 COVID vaccine appointments after receiving fewer doses than expected. CEO Warner Thomas says they will reschedule once they have enough vaccines available, but…

Cut 6 (07) “…dose”

Thomas says their hospital system got 70-percent fewer vaccines than expected, but it’s not the state government’s fault…

Cut 7 (06) “…Louisiana”

Thomas says everyone that was canceled has been put on a waiting list and will be rescheduled in the order in which they first made their appointments.

Cut 8 (08) “…doses.”

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The House of Representatives delivered Articles of Impeachment against former President Trump to the Senate last night.

Senator Bill Cassidy is set to be a juror in an impeachment trial for the second time in a year, and a juror for the only President to be impeached twice…

Cut 9 (08) “…I vote.”

Trump is being impeached on allegations that he incited an insurrection on January 6th. The claims are he egged on a crowd of his supporters at a D.C. Stop the Steal rally to go to the US Capitol and disrupt President Biden’s certification.

Cassidy says the worst-case scenario for Trump is that evidence is produced showing he was briefed on the potential for violence resulting from the rally he held before the Capitol Riot.

Cut 10 (11) “…evidence.”

Four rioters and one Capitol Hill police officer died during the riot.

The trial is set to begin in earnest the week of February 8th but before that can proceed Cassidy says there’s a key question that must be answered…

Cut 11 (08) “…considered.”

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Many Entergy customers in the state have reported a significant increase in their power bills. Entergy New Orleans CEO David Ellis says it was the perfect storm for there to be an increase for the month of December. Ellis says energy consumption for December was up an average of 20-percent.

Cut 12 (11) “…twelve-percent.” 

For the month of December, many people did not travel as they traditionally do for the holidays so more people stayed home, and the state experienced a cold spell which accounts for an increase in consumption.

Ellis says another reason for an increase is the billing cycle covered 35, so basically an extra workweek was added to the bill.

Cut 13 (11)“…increases.”

Ellis says if you are having difficulty paying your bill you can call them and discuss a payment program. Also, another option to look at so you won’t be caught off guard in the future with a bill is levelized billing.

Cut 14 (12) “…same amount.” 

1:30 LRN Newscast January 26

The House of Representatives delivered Articles of Impeachment against former President Donald Trump to the Senate last night. Senator Bill Cassidy is set to be a juror in an impeachment trial for the second time in a year, and a juror for the only President to be impeached twice…
Cut 9 (09) “…I vote.”
Trump is being impeached on allegations that he incited an insurrection on January 6th.

Many Entergy customers in the state are reporting a significant increase in their latest power bill. Entergy New Orleans CEO David Ellis says it was the perfect storm for there to be an increase for the month of December. Ellis says energy consumption last month was up an average of 20-percent.
Cut 12 (12) “…twelve-percent.”
And the billing cycle was 35 days.

21,400 people had their COVID vaccine appointments at Ochsner canceled after the health system received fewer doses than anticipated. Taylor Sharp has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp”

The state health department reported today that 43-thousand COVID vaccines have been administered since its last update on Thursday. A total of 357-thousand vaccines have been administered, nearly 47-thousand individuals have received both doses.

6:45 LRN Sportscast January 26

There are reports that LSU has finally found a defensive coordinator. Bruce Feldman with the Athletic reports that Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones is expected to become the Tigers new defensive coordinator. He’s spent the last five seasons coaching defensive backs with the Vikings, Bengals and Dolphins and also worked under former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda when he was at Wisconsin.

Former LSU running back Leonard Fournette has gone from being cut by the Jaguars to one win away from being a Super Bowl champion. Fournette had a rocky three-year run in Jacksonville that included injuries, a one-game suspension, and getting arrested in 2019 for driving on a suspended driver’s license. While the rest of his Tampa Bay teammates were celebrating Sunday after the victory over the Packers, Fournette called his parents…
Cut 30 (12) “…in the playoff.”
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The LSU men’s basketball team will look to stop a two-game losing streak tonight when they visit Texas A-and-M. The Tigers topped the Aggies earlier this season 77-54, but Coach Will Wade still looks at A-and-M as a tough matchup because of their height and physical play…
Cut 16 (20) “us the most”
The Tigers are coming off an 82-69 loss to Kentucky on Saturday. The Aggies are also on a two-game losing streak and lost last Saturday to Ole Miss 61-50.

Last night’s Pelicans-Spurs game was postponed as neither team had eight available players after COVID-19 contact tracing. New Orleans next scheduled game is Wednesday against the Washington Wizards

11:40 LRN Sportscast

There are six former Tigers who will play in Super Bowl 55, three are from the Chiefs and three from the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay running back Leonard Fournette will play in his first Super Bowl after the Jaguars released the former LSU standout in August…
cut 9 (14) “….playing out”
Fournette had a rocky three-year run in Jacksonsville. Losing in the AFC Championship game to Tom Brady and the Patriots in 2017, to an injury filled season in 2018, to getting arrested in 2019 for driving on a suspended driver’s license. He hit rock bottom when the Jags released him two weeks before the start of this season.

The other former Tigers that will play in Super Bowl 55 include Devin White and Kevin Minter from the Bucaneeers. And Tyrann Mathieu and along with Chiefs running backs Darrell Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Both of them scored a touchdown in Kansas City’s win over Buffalo.

The LSU men’s basketball team heads into the week on a two game losing streak after losing to Alabama and Kentucky last week. On Saturday, Coach Will Wade’s team trailed by 16 in the first half and lost to the Wildcats 82-69….
Cut 16 (09) “fix it”
The Tigers are at Texas A-and-M tomorrow night.

The Pelicans finished a six-game road trip on Saturday with a disappointing 120-110 loss to Minnesota. New Orleans went 1-and-5 during the trip and Coach Stan Van Gundy says the effort wasn’t there on Saturday and that’s why the Timberwolves won…
Cut 19 (17) “….across the board”
New Orleans begins a six-game homestand tonight against San Antonio.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

All three former LSU running backs that played in Sunday’s NFC and AFC championship games scored a touchdown. In the AFC title game, former Tigers standout Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrell Williams got into the end zone as the Chiefs beat the Bills 38-24. And in the NFC title game, Leonard Fournette had a spectacular 20-yard touchdown run as Tampa Bay topped Green 31-26. Former LSU Tiger Devin White also had a fumble recovery and 15 tackles for the Buccaneers. Super Bowl 55 between the Bucs and Chiefs will be February seventh in Tampa Bay.

It appears the Saints are losing quarterback coach Joe Lombardi. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Lombardi is set to be the new offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers.

After a difficult one and five road trip, the Pelicans return to the Smoothie King Center tonight to host the San Antonio Spurs. New Orleans is 5-and-10, while the Spurs are 8-and-8.

The LSU men’s basketball team has its first two game losing streak as the Tigers lost to Kentucky on Saturday 92-86. That follows a loss to Alabama. In both games the Tigers got off to a slow start. LSU sophomore forward Trendon Watford…
cut 17 (20) “…accountable”
LSU is at Texas A-and-M tomorrow night.

The Ragin Cajuns completed their first two game sweep of a conference opponent as U-L Lafayette held off Arkansas State 77-74 for a second straight win over the Red Wolves. On Saturday, Cal transfer Jacobi Gordon had a career-high 14 points…
Cut 18 (08) “…from here”
The Cajuns are Texas State this weekend.