Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

12.26.20
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7:30 LRN Sportscast December 26

2020 is a forgettable year for many, but Saints running back Alvin Kamara will never forget Christmas Day in 2020 as he tied a 91-year-old NFL record by rushing for six touchdowns in a 52-33 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Kamara gives credit to the offensive line and wide receivers who blocked so well for him…
cut 16 (15) “…will come”
Kamara rushed for 155 yards on 22 carries, while Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 311 yards as he becomes the first NFL quarterback to pass for 80-thousand career yards.

And the Saints won their fourth straight NFC South title. But New Orleans has reportedly lost linebacker Kwon Alexander for the season with a torn A-C-L. The regular season concludes next Sunday at Carolina.

The 16th ranked Ragin Cajuns go after their tenth win of the season Saturday when they take on Texas-San Antonio in the Servpro First Responder Bowl in Dallas. U-L Lafayette enters the game as co-champs of the Sun Belt. They were disappointed the conference title game was canceled because of COVID issues with Coastal Carolina, but Coach Billy Napier says his team is now focused on winning this bowl game…
Cut 14 (14) “…right way”
The Road Runners are 7-4. Kick-off is at 2:30 on A-B-C.

In basketball…the Pelicans lost their Christmas Day matchup with Miami falling to the Heat 111-98. Miami built a 20-point lead in the second quarter and New Orleans never could catch up despite 32 points from Zion Williamson.

LSU hosts Nicholls today at 1:00. This game was arranged on Thursday after Texas Southern told the Tigers they couldn’t play because of COVID issues.

12.25.20
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

The Pelicans dropped to 1-1 on the season as they lost to Miami 111-98 today. New Orleans trailed by 13 points at halftime but were unable to come back. Zion Williamson had 32 points and 14 rebounds and Brandon Ingram had 28 points, but they didn’t get much help. Josh Hart was the only other double-digit scorer as he had 12 points. New Orleans will host San Antonio on Sunday for its home opener.

The LSU men’s basketball team returns to the court tomorrow for its first game in nearly two weeks as they’ll host Nicholls State. Since beating Sam Houston State, the Tigers have had three games postponed or canceled because of COVID-19. The Bayou Bengals were scheduled to take on Texas Southern tomorrow, but T-S-U can’t play because of COVID issues. The Colonels are also coming off a long lay off as they haven’t played in 25 days. Tip-off is at 1 PM.
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The Ragin Cajuns go after their tenth win of the season Saturday when they take on Texas San Antonio in the Servpro First Responder Bowl in Dallas. U-L Lafayette enters the game as co-champs of the Sun Belt. They were disappointed the conference title game was canceled because of COVID issues with Coastal Carolina, but Coach Billy Napier says his team is now focused on winning this bowl game…
Cut 14 (14) “…right way”
Kick-off is at 2:30 on A-B-C.

Glen Guilbeau for the USA Today Network reports that Cincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman has emerged as Coach Ed Orgeron’s top choice to replace Bo Pelini as defensive coordinator. The Bearkats are undefeated and ranked 11th in the nation in total defense. Former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason has also been contacted.

12.25.20
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8:30 LRN Newscast December 25

It’s a chilly start to this Christmas Day, but many people are inside unwrapping presents. Governor John Bel Edwards understands 2020 has been a difficult year for most families, but he’s looking forward to a better 2021…
cut 30 (07) “….me in prayer”

A Crowley Republican has been tapped to chair the House committee in charge of redistricting in 2021. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Saints can win the N-F-C South for a fourth consecutive season today with a win over the Minnesota Vikings. It’s the first time the Black and Gold have played on Christmas Day but veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders is looking forward to it…
cut 13 (11) “…Day”
Tre’Quan Smith, Marcus Williams and Nick Easton have been ruled out for this game.

The LHSAA Prep Football Classic is set to begin Sunday in Natchitoches. Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission spokesperson Kelli West says they are ready to welcome thousands of football fans, many of them are visiting Natchitoches for the first time…
cut 9 (07) “…favorite team”
Natchitoches’ famous Christmas Light Display will be lit and there’s a fireworks show on Saturday night.

12.25.20
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7:30 LRN Newscast December 25

It’s Christmas Day a day to open presents, visit with family, eat food and today there will be plenty of sports to watch. The Pelicans will face the Heat to begin the NBA’s five-game extravaganza. And the Saints host the Vikings for a rare Friday afternoon 3:30 kick-off in the Dome.

The LHSAA Prep football Classic begins Sunday in Natchitoches and Brooke Thorington says the city is putting out the red carpet…
cut 2 (30) “…Brooke Thorington”

The Louisiana Legislature had its hands full in 2020 and 2021 also looks busy. Redistricting will be a priority once all of the census data comes in. Crowley Republican John Stefanski has been named chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees the drawing of political lines. But Stefanski says it’s also likely the state will face a COVID-induced budget deficit when they return in April for the regular session…
cut 5 (08) “….redistricting”
That special session would take place in June.

The Day 1 Families Fund awards Catholic Charities of Acadiana a $5-million dollar grant to help families facing homelessness. Catholic Charities Spokesperson Ben Broussard says with the pandemic and two major hurricanes the grant couldn’t have come at a better time.
Cut 6 (11) “…homelessness.”
The money comes from a charitable organization created by the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos.

12.25.20
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6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints look to win the NFC South today and avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the Vikings for a 3:30 kick-off. Minnesota is 6-8 and need a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins…
cut 12 (08) “…A-game
New Orleans has lost to the Vikings twice in the playoffs in recent history, both times Minnesota won on the final play.

The Pelicans are also in action today as they face the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat. New Orleans looks to build off a season-opening win over the Raptors, while the Heat lost its season opener to the Magic. In the season-opening win versus Toronto, Brandon Ingram had 24 points and 11 assists, while Zion Williamson had 15 points and ten rebounds.

LSU basketball has scheduled a game versus Nicholls at 1 PM.

Glen Guilbeau for the USA Today Network reports that Cincincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman has emerged as Coach Ed Orgeron’s top choice to replace Bo Pelini as defensive coordinator. The Bearkats are undefeated and rank 11th in the nation in total defense. Former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason has also been contacted.

The Ragin Cajuns will face U-T-S-A tomorrow in the Servpro First Responder Bowl in Dallas. The Roadrunners feature the Conference USA Player of the Year in Sincere McCormick, who has rushed for 13-hundred yards. Cajuns Coach Billy Napier says they must slow down McCormick…
cut 15 (15) “….success”
A win for the Cajuns gives them ten for the season. Kick-off is at 2:30 on A-B-C.

12.25.20
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6:30 LRN Newscast December 25

The Catholic Charities of Acadiana has received a five-million-dollar grant to help solve family homelessness. Catholic Charities of Acadiana spokesperson Ben Broussard says with mass evictions and the hurricanes they’ve spent half a million dollars to keep families from being homeless. He says the five million dollar grant from the Day One families fund will help them build a new shelter and aid more families…
cut 8 (11) “…right there”

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder names Crowley Representative and Republican John Stefanski the chair of House and Governmental Affairs, the committee tasked with overseeing redistricting next year. We don’t have census data just yet but Stefanski says they’re confident about one thing…

Cut 3 (08) “…right now.”
Ten years ago the state lost a congressional seat after a population loss post-Hurricane Katrina.

The Saints look to win the NFC South today and avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the Vikings for a 3:30 kick-off. Minnesota is 6-8 on the season and need a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins…
cut 12 (08) “…A-game
New Orleans has lost to the Vikings twice in the playoffs in recent history, both times Minnesota won on the final play.

Natchitoches is preparing to host the L-H-S-A-A’s Prep Football Classic. The four-day event begins Sunday. This is a real tourism opportunity for Natchitoches as they have an already scheduled fireworks show set for Saturday night and they hope football fans check out their renowned Christmas lights…
cut 10 (12) “….and scenes”
That’s Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission spokesperson Kelli West.

The Saints look to win the NFC South today and avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the Vikings for a 3:30 kick-off. Minnesota is 6-8 and need a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins…
cut 12 (08) “…A-game
New Orleans has lost to the Vikings twice in the playoffs in recent history, both times Minnesota won on the final play.

12.23.20
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

ULM has named Terry Bowden as its new head football coach. Bowden, the son of legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, has won 175 games in 25 seasons as a collegiate coach and had a very successful six year run at Auburn, before it fell apart in 1998. Bowden returned to coaching in 2009 and won 29 games in three seasons at North Alabama. In 2012, he went to Akron and produced one winning season in sevens years at the MAC school. The last two seasons, Bowden has served as a Graduate Assistant at Clemson…
cut 28 (28) “…national championship”
Bowden takes over a program that failed to win a game this past season.

The Pelicans begin a new season tonight as they face the Raptors in Tampa which is the temporary home this season for the Toronto-based franchise. New Orleans fans are excited about Zion Williamson’s second season in the NBA and Williamson is predicting it will be a good one…
Cut 16 (20) “…we’ll figure it out.”
Tip-off is at 6:30.

In college basketball…Louisiana Tech defeated ULM for a second time this season as the Bulldogs defeated ULM 68-57. Cobe Williams and Kalob Ledoux each had 13 points for the Bulldogs who are 7-and-2. The Warhawks fell to 2-and-5.

Northwestern State scored 61 points in the second half but still lost to top-ranked Gonzaga for a second straight night 95-78. Jairus Roberson had 15 points for the Demons.

12.23.20
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11:40 LRN Sportscast December 23

Former Auburn Coach Terry Bowden will reportedly become the next head football coach at U-L-M. Bowden coached at Auburn from 1993 to 1998, winning 47 games in six seasons. . Monroe News-Star sports reporter Adam Hunsucker says it’s a surprise to see the Warhawks hire a 64-year-old coach…
Cut 9 (12) “..weekend came.”
Bowden also had a successful three-year stint at North Alabama. His last head coaching job was at Akron where he went 32-and-52 in seven seasons. Akron fired Bowden after the 2018 season.

LSU has announced offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and defensive line coach Bill Johnson are retiring as on-field coaches and they will become analysts. So now Coach Ed Orgeron has to find both an offensive and defensive coordinator.

Louisiana Tech is seeking a seventh straight bowl victory when it takes on Georgia Southern in the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl this afternoon. Aaron Allen will make his first start at quarterback since the season opener. Coach Skip Holtz says they are not asking Allen to be a hero…
Cut 18 (18) “…gives you.”

Pelican fans are expecting big things from Zion Williamson as he begins his second NBA season tonight as New Orleans tips off a new season in Tampa against the Raptors. Williamson says getting into the playoffs is the goal…
Cut 16 (20) “…we’ll figure it out.”

12.23.20
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10:30 LRN Newscast December 23

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the state’s Phase Two coronavirus restrictions, which includes the statewide mask mandate, to January 13th. Edwards says hospitalizations have exceeded the level reached during the second surge in July. He says it’s clear we still have a lot of work to do, but there is light at the end of the tunnel…
cut 9 (07) “….here yet”
The state health department reported yesterday that 22-thousand health care workers have been vaccinated.

The first Amazon fulfillment center in Louisiana will be in Lafayette Parish, the online giant will construct the center in Carencro. Gregg Gothreaux, CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority says it’s a big boost for the area and not just because they will hire 500 employees.
Cut 10 (11) “…a year.”
Construction of the fulfillment center is expected to be completed by the end of 2021 and Gothreaux says hiring will begin three months prior to opening.

AAA says the pandemic has reduced holiday travel by 29-percent. Brooke Thorington has more…
cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Jefferson Parish Coroner says a 69-year-old passenger on a United Airlines flight bound for California has died of COVID-19. 69-year-old Isaias Hernandez of Los Angeles was experiencing respiratory issues when his flight from Orlando was diverted to New Orleans because he needed medical attention. During efforts to save Hernandez’s life his wife said he was experiencing COVID-like symptoms.

12.23.20
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9:30 LRN Newscast December 23

Louisiana will remain in the current Modified Phase Two for coronavirus restrictions until January 13th. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Multiple reports say former Auburn coach Terry Bowden will be announced today as the new head football coach for the U-L-M Warhawks. The 64-year-old was the head coach at Auburn from 1993-98. His last head coaching experience was at Akron from 2012 to 2018 and he has an overall record of 175-114 and 2.

There’s the potential for severe weather across south Louisiana this afternoon and into tonight as a strong cold front approaches the state, which will bring us some cold temperatures for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll see below-freezing lows on Christmas morning…
cut 13 (11) “..degrees”

You can call it a Christmas Gift for Acadiana’s economy as Amazon announces plans to build a 100-million dollar fulfillment center in the Lafayette Parish city of Carencro. The online retailer plans to hire 500 workers and Lafayette Economic Development Authority CEO Gregg Gothreaux says hiring will begin three months prior to opening…
cut 11 (07) “…etc”
Construction of the fulfillment center is expected to completed by the end of 2021.