6:45 LRN Sportscast

Zion Williamson scored 36 points last night but Damian Lilliard had 43 and 16 assists as the Trail Blazers topped the Pelicans 126 to 124 last night. Lillard scored 11 points in the fourth quarter including a go-ahead three-point play with 16 seconds left. New Orleans also lost starting center Steven Adams to a right ankle injury. The Pels will host the Suns tomorrow.

The LSU men’s basketball team scheduled game against Ole Miss today has been postponed because of the winter weather. No make-up date, so the Tigers next game is Saturday versus Auburn at 3 PM.

The Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball weekend series against U-T Arlington has been postponed. The two-game series was set to begin Friday in the Cajundome.

Louisiana Tech’s two-game series against Middle Tennessee has been moved back a day and will now start on Saturday and conclude on Sunday.

As a result of travel issues because of the winter weather, LSU’s 2021 baseball season will not start until Saturday when they host Air Force at 1 PM. They will host Notre Dame at noon on Sunday and then Louisiana Tech on Monday night. The Bulldogs will open their season on Saturday at 5 PM against Notre Dame and then face Air Force at 4:00 and then LSU on Monday night.

The cold weather has also prompted Tulane and the Ragin Cajuns to move up their season opener on Friday from 6 PM to 2 PM.

The start of Northwestern State’s opening series versus Southern Miss has been moved back one day to Saturday as the two teams will play a doubleheader in Hattiesburg at noon. The series will conclude Sunday at 1 PM. Southeastern Louisiana is doing the same thing with its opening series in Hammond versus Mississippi Valley State.

The SWAC has determined that Alcorn State will have to forfeit the six games they were scheduled to play during the upcoming spring season. So that means Southern will get credited with a win for a game that they had scheduled with Alcorn on March 27th. Also instead of Alcorn hosting Southern in the fall, they will now travel to Mumford Stadium.

6:30 LRN Newscast February 18

The winter precipitation still has yet to leave the state as there’s a wintery mix falling in northeast and northcentral Louisiana. The entire state should get above the freezing mark today, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says we are looking at a very cold morning tomorrow…
cut 7 (08) “…and 40s”
Thousands of people spent the night sleeping without power. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says after days of severe winter weather there’s more and more damage to poles and powerlines…
cut 14 (09) “….system”
And highways remain treacherous where snow, sleet, and freezing rain fell yesterday. State Police tells K-T-B-S TV that several 18-wheelers ran off the road and into ditches and traffic is on a standstill on Interstate 20 near Ruston. No reports of injuries at this time.

Many COVID vaccine shipments into Louisiana will be delayed this week due to the winter weather. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 2 (29) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

4:45 LRN Sportscast Feb 17

After ending a three-game losing streak last night in Memphis, the Pelicans return home tonight to host the Portland Trail Blazers. New Orleans tamed the Grizzlies 144 to 113 as Zion Williamson scored 31 points. Pels head coach Stan Van Gundy likes what he sees from his team offensively, it’s what’s happening on the defensive end that has him concerned…
cut 20 (20) “….before the break”
Tip-off is at 8 PM.

Because of this crazy winter weather, LSU men’s basketball will not play at Ole Miss tomorrow. In fact, the SEC has decided that no games will be played tomorrow. No word on if the Tigers and Rebels will re-schedule.

As a result of travel issues because of the winter weather, LSU’s 2021 baseball season will not start until Saturday when they host Air Force at 1 PM. They will host Notre Dame at noon on Sunday and then Louisiana Tech on Monday night. The Bulldogs will open their season on Saturday at 5 PM against Notre Dame and then face Air Force at 4:00 and then LSU on Monday night.

The cold weather has also prompted Tulane and the Ragin Cajuns to move up their season opener on Friday from 6 PM to 2 PM.

The start of Northwestern State’s opening series versus Southern Miss has been moved back one day to Saturday as the two teams will play a doubleheader in Hattiesburg at noon. The series will conclude Sunday at 1 PM. Southeastern Louisiana is doing the same thing with its opening series in Hammond versus Mississippi Valley State.

And back to college basketball, Louisiana Tech’s two-game series against Middle Tennessee has been moved back a day and will now start on Saturday and conclude on Sunday.

LRN PM Newscall February 17

A 15 mile stretch along I-20 East in Bossier and Webster Parishes is closed after commercial vehicles jackknifed last night causing approximately 45 motorists to be trapped. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins tells KSLA-TV that the city could be without water for 48 hours due to the second round of winter weather. Matt Doyle has more…

cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

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State Police says treacherous road conditions led to 45 people getting stuck on a stretch of Interstate 20 in Bossier and Webster parish for six to eight hours last night. Trooper Brent Hardy says there were multiple crashes…

Cut 3 (11)  “….back up” 

There were no serious injuries, but Hardy says multiple agencies were needed to assist those trapped overnight.

Cut 4 (13) “…stranded.” 

Hardy stresses the importance of staying off roadways until this storm passes and leave them open for essential workers.

Officials say be prepared just in case you are stranded. Hardy says if you must drive, drive slowly

Cut 5  (13)  “…slowly.” 

I-20 Eastbound remains close for about a 15-mile stretch as they work to remove those vehicles from the interstate.

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Northwest Louisiana is getting hammered by a combination of frigid temperatures and a messy mix of sleet and snow.  

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins announced much of the city could be without water for the next 48 hours. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick… 

Cut 6 (09) “…town.”

City and parish roads have been declared “unpassable” which means they are drivable but dangerous. Chadwick says thankfully residents are playing it safe.  

Cut 7 (08) “…point”

Chadwick asks motorists to try and avoid driving into or through northwest Louisiana at this time. She says successfully navigating the area is a coin flip.  

Cut 8 (12) “…travel”

Power outages are also growing and Chadwick says there are concerns the numbers could grow even faster the longer this weather event goes on.  

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All roads in Beauregard Parish and LA Highway 10 in Allen Parish have been deemed impassable due to the ongoing winter storm.  

State Police Trooper Derek Senegal says yesterday the sun melted much of the ice along those roads, but… 

Cut 9 (12) “…roadway.”

Designating a road “impassable” means officials highly discourage non-emergency travel. 

Senegal says despite the hazardous road conditions they are seeing an uptick in traffic coming into the region from across the Texas border.  

Cut 10 (12) “…warmth” 

Millions remain without power in the Lone Star state after the winter storm wrecked their electrical grid.  

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Governor John Bel Edwards says today’s winter weather is challenging Louisiana with power outages, water outages, and hundreds of wrecks on the roadways. Edwards says State Police have worked about 350 weather-related crashes

Cut 11 (09) “…those crashes.”

It’s an especially challenging time for Shreveport as the city is experiencing low water pressure. Edwards says he’s aware of the situation

Cut 12 (12) “ …water pressure.” 

Edwards says the power and water issues, along with road closures are all linked…

Cut 13 (12)“…real issues too”

2:30 LRN Newscast February 17

Another winter storm is hitting Louisiana producing a combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Alexandria area to the Arkansas state line. The state health department says a 77-year-old Calcasieu Parish man slipped on the ice, fell in a pool, and drowned. Cleco is reporting 20-thousand customers without power.

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins tells KSLA-TV that the city could be without water for 48 hours due to the second round of winter weather. Matt Doyle has more.
cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”

From the Alexandria area to points north, temperatures are at the freezing mark or below freezing. Roads are extremely slick in the northern half of the state. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy says they’ve worked 350 crashes during the winter weather this week, so if you have to drive, drive slowly…
cut 5 (13) “…slolwy”
State Police is working to reopen I-10 West from Port Allen to Lafayette.

What about crawfish and this cold weather? Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says cold temperatures do cause the mudbugs to go into almost a dormant-like state and bury themselves deep in the water, but he’s hopeful we’ll still have a good crawfish season…
cut 13 (09) “….pattern”
Strain also believes the strawberry crop should do well, if producers were able to cover them.

11:30 LRN Newscast February 17

Another winter storm is hitting Louisiana producing a combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain to most of the state north of Interstate 10. Governor John Bel Edwards tweeted there have been several deaths related to people slipping and falling on ice. The state health department says one of the fatalities involved a Calcasieu Parish man who slipped on the ice, fell in a pool, and drowned.

In northwest Lousiana, about 45 people were trapped in their vehicles for eight to ten hours last night as a result of multiple accidents on a 15-mile stretch of Interstate 20 in Bossier and Minden Parishes. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy…
cut 3 (11) “…five six mile back-up”
Hardy says there were no serious injuries and Bossier City firefighters helped get the trapped motorists home or to local hotels.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning of the potential for fish kills resulting from this historic cold spell we’re in. Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says anytime the temperature drops to near or below freezing for an extended period of time, vulnerable species are put at risk.
Cut 7 (08) “…small.”

It’s been cold in southeast Louisiana. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says if farmers took proper precautions, the cold temperatures should not jeopardize the strawberry crop….
cut 14 (10) “…bounce back”

And when will it warm up? State Climatologist Barry Keim says we need to wait a few days…
cut 12 (06) “…the weekend”

10:30 LRN Newscast February 17

Snow, sleet and freezing rain is falling over most of Louisiana today. North of I-20 is getting more snow and much of Louisiana is seeing freezing rain, which is leading to treacherous roads. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this is somewhat reminiscent of the last hurricane season, back-to-back systems hitting the state, but instead of a month apart its days apart…
cut 11 (11)”…for it”
The forecast calls for over a quarter of an inch of ice over north and central Louisana and freezing rain is also falling in southwest Louisiana north of I-10.

It was another cold morning in southeast Louisiana. So how is the strawberry crop doing? Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says farmers should be able to salvage the berries…
cut 15 (09) “…forward”

This historic deep freeze has state Wildlife and Fisheries officials worried about large scale fish kills. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

It’s Ash Wednesday one of the more prominent Catholic and Lutheran holidays and LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier says despite public health limits on church capacity…
Cut 4 (07)“…do that.”
Many churches are offering drive through blessing services today, but with the roads situation, it will be difficult for many to get their ashes.

9:30 LRN Newscast February 17

More winter weather is hitting the state today. Snow is falling north of I-20, it’s sleet south of Louisiana is being impacted by freezing rain. Multiple accidents are being reported across the state, even in the New Orleans area. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll get above freezing in south Louisiana, but it will remain cold…
cut 12 (06) “….the weekend”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning the public about the potential for fish kills due to freezing temperatures. Inland freshwater ponds and waters are not expected to be at risk, but Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says fish in coastal marsh areas with shallow waters are at risk.
Cut 8 (09) “…kills.”
Banks says redfish, black drum, and white trout, and spotted seatrout are most at risk.

Last year’s Ash Wednesday was one of the last major religious holidays celebrated before the pandemic struck. Matt Doyle spoke with an expert about how COVID has impacted the religious community since then…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

It was a quiet Mardi Gras Day, because of the pandemic and the cold weather. It was 26-degrees in New Orleans, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says that’s not the coldest Mardi Gras day ever. He says on February 14, 1899 the temperature hit 22 degrees in New Orleans on that Fat Tuesday.

8:30 LRN newscast February 17

A second winter storm is impacting Louisiana today. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 10 (09) “…Thursday morning”
Radar indicates it’s snowing north of I-20, sleet is falling just south of I-20 and most of western Louisiana is experiencing freezing rain. Patchy light freezing drizzle is also occurring in southeast Louisiana which has caused multiple accidents in the New Orleans area.

It’s also Ash Wednesday as many Catholics and Lutherans will attempt to get their ashes at either church or drive-through services. The pandemic has resulted in fewer people attending church, but LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier (Pass-kay) says in some cases the virtual church services have resulted in more people participating in religious activities…
cut 5 (10) “…services”

The state department of wildlife and fisheries is concerned about fish kills throughout coastal Louisiana as a result of the freezing temperatures. Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says coastal species impacted by low water temperatures are redfish, black drum, and white trout, along with other popular species…
cut 9 (10) “…biomass”
If you spot a fish kill, alert the department of wildlife and fisheries.

What about crawfish and this cold weather? Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says cold temperatures do cause the mudbugs to go into almost a dormant-like state and bury themselves deep in the water, but he’s hopeful we’ll still have a good crawfish season…
cut 13 (09) “….pattern”

7:30 LRN Newscast February 17

A second punch from Old Man winter is hitting the state today. Brooke Thorington has more…
cut 3 (30) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

Entergy and Cleco had to do rolling black outs last night in south Louisaina to reduce demand on the grid. And the radar indicates freezing rain is falling in south Lousiana and portions of north Louisiana. Sleet and snow is falling along the I-20 corridor and parishes north of that interstate.

It’s cold in southeast Louisiana too this morning. Temperatures on the northshore are in the mid to upper 20s. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says if farmers took proper precatutions, the cold temperatures should not jeopardize the strawberry crop….
cut 14 (10) “…bounce back”

It’s Ash Wednesday and many Catholics across Louisiana are reflecting on a year of worship under the New Normal. Ash Wednesday is one of the more prominent Catholic and Lutheran holidays and LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier says despite public health limits on church capacity…
Cut 4 (07)“…do that.”
Many churches are offering drive through blessing services today.