Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

08.14.20
by

1:30 LRN Newscast August 14

Baton Rouge Police have arrested three women who allegedly physically assaulted a teenage restaurant hostess because they could not dine at the same table. Sergeant Don Coppola says the young girl had to be treated at a local hospital for her injuries…
cut 5 (10) “…this happens”
The three women arrested range in ages from 27 to 48-years-old.

The state is receiving another $205 million in BP oil spill money for a variety of projects to help recover from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. Executive Director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Bren Haase says $176 million will be used to build marshland in the upper Barataria Basin.
Cut 12 (11) “…the Mississippi River.”

New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewes are not sure if they will roll next year. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The state reported nearly 13-hundred new COVID-19 cases today and 28 more deaths, which brings the state’s death toll to 43-hundred. Hospitalizations continue to fall as that number dropped by 38 to 1,243.

Grambling State has increased security after one person was shot last night on campus. The school says the victim is recovering at a local hospital and is a non-student. The shooting remains under investigation.

08.14.20
by

11:40 LRN Sportscast August 14

The Pelicans closed out the 2019-20 season last night with a 133 to 127 loss to the Orlando Magic. New Orleans top players did not play so that resulted in Frank Jackson leading the way for New Orleans as he scored a career-high 31 points. Rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker had a career-high 29 points. The Pels went two and six in the bubble and finish with an overall record of 30-42. Now we wait to see if the Pelicans retain head coach Alvin Gentry.

Former LSU president F King Alexander says it’s a big gamble for the SEC to play football in the fall and there are serious consequences if they lose. Alexander is the current president at Oregon State and told the local paper there that the SEC is not looking at the reality of the situation.

The NCAA has canceled championships for fall collegiate sports. But that does not include the F-B-S playoffs, as the conferences run the College Football playoff.

The Saints have announced they will not have fans in the Dome for the season opener against Tampa Bay on September 13th. Safety Marcus Williams says it will be not be the same without the Who Dats in the Dome…
cut 16 (16) “…do our job”
Meanwhile, tight ends in the NFL are getting paid. The Chiefs and Travis Kelce have agreed to a four-year, 57-million dollar contract, while 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle has agreed to a five-year, 75-million dollar contract. That’s the richest contract ever for a tight end.

LSU head football coach Ed Orgeron presents Governor John Bel Edwards with a National Championship ring. This morning Coach O shared a photo with the governor on Twitter thanking him for all he has done for the state and the tigers.

08.14.20
by

8:30 LRN Newscast August 14

Good news for 454-thousand unemployed workers in Louisiana. Governor Edwards says they will soon receive an additional 300-dollars a week in federal unemployment benefits. Kevin Barnhart reports that’s because the state has received new guidance on how to tap into the funds…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Grambling State says one person was shot last night on campus. There is video circulating that shows a large fight before the shooting occurred. No other information is available.

Could a COVID vaccine be available in a couple of months? Former Louisiana Congressman John Fleming, who is now a member of the White House coronavirus task force believes so…
cut 11 (10) “….2021”
Fleming says there are several vaccines that have shown promise in initial trials and mass production is already underway, so once the F-D-A approves the vaccines, they can be available for public use.

LSU students will begin moving into their dorm rooms tomorrow. Residential Life spokesperson Catherine David says seven-thousand students have received specific times on when they can move in…
cut 4 (11) “…residents”
Residence hall move-ins will take place Saturday through Wednesday and on-campus apartment dwellers can move in from August 20th to 23rd. The first day of school is August 24th.

08.14.20
by

7:30 LrN Newscast August 14

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state has submitted paperwork to the federal government so that unemployed workers in Louisiana can receive 300-dollars a week in federal unemployment benefits…
cut 8 (05) “…good news”
The 300-dollars will be in addition to what the state provides which is a maximum of 247-dollars. No word on when the federal unemployment benefits will be available.

Former Louisiana Congressman Doctor John Fleming, who is now a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force says the United States expects to have a vaccine as early as October or hopefully by December. Fleming also says there’s been advancements in treatments, the filtration of blood to pull out the virus and an oral anti-viral for infected patients…
cut 12 (06) “…we move forward”

LSU students will begin the first of ten days of move-in for on-campus residents beginning tomorrow. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

There are disappointed student-athletes on the campuses of Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese and Northwestern State. The Southland Conference has decided to postpone fall sports until the spring. So there will be no football games at those schools. Officials say the cost of testing and unknown longterm health effects of the coronavirus are main factors that went into the decision.

08.14.20
by

6:45 LRN Sportscast

There will be no football games this fall for Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese and Northwestern State. The Southland Conference has postponed fall sports because of the coronavirus pandemic and the goal is to hold league competition in football, volleyball, women’s soccer and cross country in the spring. After that announcement was made, the NCAA says it will not hold championships for fall sports. That does not include the college football playoff for FBS teams. The NCAA does not govern the C-F-P.

The Pelicans season ended last night with a 133 to 127 loss to the Orlando Magic. Frank Jackson had 31 points in a losing effort. New Orleans went one and seven in the bubble and Zion Williamson did not play last night. Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday were also held out. Williamson says he has no issues with how the team limited his playing time this season. A big question is whether Alvin Gentry will return next season.

The Saints kick off the season on September 13th against Tampa Bay, but Who Dat Nation will not be in the Superdome. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Highly productive tight ends in the NFL are getting paid! The Chiefs and Travis Kelce have agreed to a four-year, 57-million dollar contract extension. All-Pro tight end George Kittle and San Francisco have agreed to a five-year, 75-million dollar contract extension.

08.14.20
by

6:30 LRN Newscast August 14

The new 300 dollar federally enhanced weekly unemployment benefits will be available for jobless individuals soon and will be retroactive to August 1st. Governor Edwards says new federal guidance allows for all Louisiana unemployment beneficiaries to collect the payment.
Cut 7 (12) “…1st”
This will impact over 400-thousand out of work Louisiana residents.

LSU students will begin moving into their dorm rooms starting tomorrow. It will be a staggered process and each student is allowed to bring two people to help them with the move in and all students and their designated guests must get a wristband at the River Road staging area…
cut 5 (10) “…wellness”
That’s LSU residential life spokesperson Catherine David.

22 southeast Louisiana bar owners who filed suit against Governor John Bel Edwards order that prohibits bars from letting customers drink onsite receive a hearing before a federal judge in New Orleans today. Legal analyst Tim Meche says even if the plaintiffs get a favorable ruling, they can not allow customers into their establishment right away…
cut 15 (12) “….while at least”
Four Jefferson Parish business owners were not successful in their lawsuit against the governor’s mask mandate and bar closure order in state court last week.

08.14.20
by

Updated version of LRN AM Newscall August 14

LSU students will begin the first of ten days of move-in for on-campus residents Saturday. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

_____________________________________

Governor Edwards says a final ruling on the new 300 dollar federally enhanced unemployment benefits is good news for Louisiana. Kevin Barnhart has more…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

___________________________________________

A Louisiana doctor on the White House Coronavirus Task Force offers an optimistic outlook for what is on the horizon in the battle against COVID-19. Kevin Barnhart has more…

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

______________________________

LSU will begin tomorrow its staggered move-in for students living on campus. LSU Residential Life spokesperson Catherine David (Dah-veed) says more than 7,000 students will settle into their new homes and given assigned days to do so.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…residents.”

Residence hall move-in will take place Saturday through Wednesday and on-campus apparent dwellers can move in from August 20th to 23rd. The first day of classes is August 24th.

Each student is allowed to bring two people to help them with the move in, and all students and their designated guests must get a wristband at the River Road staging area before entering.

Cut 5 (10)  “…wellness.”

LSU reports it is expecting to see an increase in enrollment for the fall semester despite the pandemic.

David says the standard COVID-era coronavirus spread mitigation policies will be in effect for the move in.

Cut 6 (08) “…check in.”

The wellness bag will contain an LSU branded mask and gaiter, hand sanitizer, and a Mike the Tiger stress ball.

______________________________

The new 300 dollar federally enhanced weekly unemployment benefits will be available for jobless individuals in the next few weeks and will be retroactive to August 1st. Governor Edwards says new federal guidance allows for all Louisiana unemployment beneficiaries to collect the payment.

Cut 7 (12) “…1st”

The new benefits are a drop from the previous 600 dollar weekly payments and they are in addition to what the state provides.

The 300 dollar weekly boost is being funded by FEMA emergency relief funds. Edwards says that concerns him, but…

Cut 8 (05) “…good news.”

The disaster response fund has enough money to fund the program for roughly five to six weeks.

Edwards says the Louisiana Workforce Commission is working to make sure its distribution system is ready for the change from the former 600 dollar payments funded directly by Congress.

Cut 9 (11) “…necessary.”

_____________________________

Deputy Chief of Staff for the Trump Administration and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force Dr. John Fleming is optimistic a COVID-19 vaccine could be approved in a couple of months. The former Congressman says several different vaccines could get FDA approval.

Cut 10 (10) “…6 to 8 months.”

Fleming says the timeline getting the entire nation inoculated could happen quickly once the vaccine is available.

Cut 11 (10) “…of 2021”

In addition to work on vaccines, Fleming says there are promising developments with the use of synthetic antibodies, a variety of treatments such as filtration of the blood to pull out the virus, and an oral anti-viral that can be taken at home for those battling the virus.

Cut 12 (06) “…we move forward.”

_______________________

US District Judge Martin Feldman is set to hear arguments in New Orleans today from 22 southeast Louisiana bar owners who are attempting to stop enforcement of Governor Edwards’ bar closure order. Similar challenges have not had much luck but legal analyst Tim Meche says this argument might be in front of the right judge.

Cut 13 (12) “…would be him.” 

Meche says the bar owners could be looking for success in finding the closure order unconstitutional when it closes down certain businesses while letting other types of businesses operate.

Cut 14 (08) “…necessary or good.”

Meche doubts bars will be reopened today as a result of the hearing.

Cut 15 (12) “…while at least.” 

08.13.20
by

4:45 LRN Sportscast August 13

The Southland Conference has decided to postpone league competition for football and other fall sports to the spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioner Tom Burnett says questions surrounding the long-term effects of the virus was a factor in their decision
Cut 3 (10) “…had COVID”
The league is giving schools the option of playing nonconference games in the fall, but McNeese, Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State have decided to wait until the spring.

So that means the Ragin Cajuns season opener against McNeese has been canceled. U-L Lafayette has three openings on its schedule. Southeastern Louisiana will not play Tulane this year, but Houston Baptist says they remain committed to playing Louisiana Tech on September 19th.

The Saints’ season opener against the Tampa Bay Bucs at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on September 13th will go on without any fans in attendance. Team President Dennis Lauscha says fanless games means the Black and Gold losses its dome field advantage.
Cut 8 (11) “…a big play.”
Lauscha is cautiously optimistic that fans will be allowed at games at some point during the season.

The Pelicans have been cautious with rookie Zion Williamson all season long and he will not play in tonight’s final game of the year. That means Williamson appeared in just 24 games during his first year in the NBA. But the number one pick says he does not have an issue with how the team handled his playing time. Williamson says he’ll look to make improvements on the court and in the weight room during the offseason.

08.13.20
by

3:30 LRN Newscast August 13

The Louisiana Health Department announced eleven-hundred new coronavirus cases today, bringing the state’s total to 135-thousand. But Governor Edwards says the percentage of tests that show a positive coronavirus case is decreasing
Cut 12 (12) “…on cases”

Shreveport Police released more details on yesterday’s shooting at St. Mary Medical Center. Chief Ben Raymond says 41-year-old Taniel Cole got into an argument with another person…
cut 9 (10) “…hospital”
Raymond says an innocent bystander ended up getting shot, but will be okay. Cole was arrested later in the day in Mississippi.

The Saints kick off the season on September 13th against Tampa Bay, but Who Dat Nation will not be in the Superdome. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

There will be no football this fall for Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese and Northwestern State. The Southland Conference announced today that they are postponing fall sports and will begin looking at playing in the spring. Meanwhile, the SEC, the Sun Belt, Conference USA and the American Atheltic Conference still plan on having a fall season.

08.13.20
by

LRN PM Newscall August 13

The Southland Conference joins other leagues in deciding to play football in the spring. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

____________________________

The Saints kick off the season on September 13th against Tampa Bay, but Who Dat Nation will not be in the Superdome. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

_____________________________

The Southland Conference has decided to postpone league competition for football and other fall sports to the spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioner Tom Burnett says questions surrounding the long-term effects of the virus was a factor in their decision

Cut 3 (10)  “…had COVID”  

The league is giving schools the option of playing nonconference games in the fall, but McNeese, Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State have decided to wait until the spring. Burnett says the plan is to play a conference schedule in 2021

Cut 4 (09)“ ..it will occur 

Football teams in the Southland have been holding workouts and the league held a virtual media day last month. Burnett says NCAA released a new set of health and safety requirements last week and that caught the attention of school leaders…

Cut 5 (06)  “…or not”

______________________

The Saints announce no fans will be in the Superdome for the season opener versus Tampa Bay on September 13. Team President Dennis Lauscha says while Orleans Parish is doing better in reducing the spread of the virus, fans coming in from other areas are a concern.

Cut 6 (09) “…those numbers down.”

Lauscha says team officials have been working closely with health and safety experts, state and local authorities, and the NFL to outline a plan for the safest way to reintroduce fans to the Superdome.

Cut 7 (08) “…to our games.”

The fate of game attendance for other home games is currently unknown and will depend on the status of trends in virus spread.  Lauscha says the game-day production with fans in attendance is vital in maintaining dome field advantage.

Cut 8 (11) “…a big play.”

____________________________________________

41-year-old Taniel Cole is custody after allegedly brandishing a gun in a Shreveport hospital, executing a carjacking, and taking law enforcement on a cross-state chase before being apprehended in Mississippi.

Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond says Cole entered Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport and started a domestic dispute with someone there…

Cut 9 (10) “…hospital.”

A bystander who is believed to have no been a part of the domestic dispute then attempted to intervene and was shot in the left. Raymond says that bystander may have saved lives…

Cut 10 (10) “…worse.”

The victim who was shot is not in serious condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

After shooting the bystander…

Cut 11 (12) “…unharmed”

Cole continued to drive by himself to Mississippi and was apprehended near the state line with Alabama.

___________________________

The Louisiana Health Department announced eleven-hundred new coronavirus cases today, bringing the state’s total to 135-thousand. But Governor Edwards says the percentage of tests that show a positive coronavirus case is decreasing

Cut 12 (12) “…on cases”

The number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital has fallen below 13-hundred to 1,281. Edwards says nearly a month ago, there were 16-hundred COVID-19 patients hospitalized

Cut 13 (12) “available today” 

The state also reported 41 more COVID-19 deaths as the death toll rose to 42-hundred. Edwards says 49-percent of the victims are white and 49-percent are black but black residents make up 33-percent of Louisiana’s population

Cut 14 (06) “over-represented”

____________________

42-year-old Curtis Carroll of Tallulah has been arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder of 38-year-old Pamela Oliver of Tallulah, who is believed to have been Carroll’s girlfriend. Master State Police Trooper Michael Reichardt says Oliver’s body was discovered Tuesday yesterday in Madison Parish…

Cut 15 (06) “river” 

Oliver was last seen alive on Saturday. The Madison Parish Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest. Reichardt says helping rural parishes solve serious crimes is a big part of what LSP does.

Cut 16 (08) “it did” 

Carroll is also a suspect in an arson that occurred several weeks ago, but is not related to this homicide.