Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

10.02.26
by

1:30 LRN Newscast

We are about a month away from the November 3rd election and in the U-S Senate race, Democrat Jamie Davis has released two polls that show he’s only trailing Republican Julia Letlow by a few percentage points. Davis told Louisiana Radio Network he’s actually leading Letlow when respondents were told of the candidates’ backgrounds.

Cut 15 (07) “…a plus-nine.”

Earlier this week on Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge, Letlow called it a bogus poll.

Baton Rouge is among the finalists to become the permanent home of the National High School Football Hall of Fame. It would honor the best high school players, coaches, teams and contributors and would preserve high school football history through exhibits and memorabilia. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser nominated Baton Rouge…

Cut 12 (06) “…in Baton Rouge.”

An official announcement could be made later this month or in November.

 

The ex-finance of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, Ken Urker, has been found dead in his Raceland home and Lafourche Parish authorities say it appears it was an overdose death. Blanchard told People magazine Urker was not in a good state of mind lately. Blanchard is know for killing her mother Dee Dee Blanchard, after her mother tricked her into thinking she had serious diseases in order to receive community support and money.

There are several college football games in the state tomorrow, will the weather cooperate? Andrew Greenstein reports….

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein”

10.02.26
by

LRN PM Newscall October 2

There are several college football games in the state tomorrow, will the weather cooperate? Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

LSU hosts McNeese tomorrow, but the big question is: will starting quarterback Sam Leavitt play? Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

____________________________________________

With another weekend of football ahead, all eyes are on the weather. That’s because thunderstorms could cause delays throughout the state. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says any thunderstorms that develop this evening should move out pretty quickly. However, tomorrow could be a different story.

Cut 3 (11) “…bit more prolonged.”

There are several college football games scheduled for Saturday evening, and Grymes says if thunderstorms delay any kickoff times, the delays shouldn’t be too significant…

Cut 4 (11) “…way it looks.”

As far as rainfall totals go, Grymes says those numbers have come down from the original forecast, with the heaviest amounts being in southeast Louisiana.

Cut 5 (14) “…come down markedly.”

Grymes says north Louisiana, where the worst of the drought currently is, will be lucky to get an inch of rain by the time the system pushes out of the state at the end of the weekend.

____________________________________________

The Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches is ranked number one in the country for the best public high school teachers, according to the 2027 Niche rankings. LSMSA Executive Director Doctor Jason Anderson says students are challenged to pursue excellence, while learning from faculty who model those same values…

Cut 6 (08) “…every day.”

LSMSA was founded in 1983 as a residential high school for high-achieving students. Niche also ranks it as the nation’s best public high school for STEM. But Anderson says there’s more to the school than academics…

Cut 7 (09) “..young people.”

LSMSA faculty members are required to have at least a master’s degree in the subjects they teach, and 85-percent have a Ph.D., M-F-A or another terminal degree in their field. Anderson says that level of expertise makes the faculty…

Cut 8 (09) “…remarkable.”

LSMSA has 287 students from across Louisiana.

Anderson says students looking to take the next step in their academic journey should consider whether LSMSA is the right fit for them.

____________________________________________

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt played through a hamstring injury against Texas A&M last week, but coach Lane Kiffin said that he would be cautious playing him against McNeese tomorrow. With the Tigers favored by over 50 points, LSU Radio sideline reporter Gordy Rush says he shouldn’t play at all.

Cut 9 (14)  “…next week.”

WAFB Sports Director Jacques Doucet says the situation reminds him of Garrett Nussmeier starting against Southeastern last season while he dealt with nagging injuries. He thinks LSU should keep Leavitt on the sideline but says that adds another risk.

Cut 10 (10) “…nothing wrong.” 

Leavitt could get the start but be pulled shortly after. That is what Zach Nagy with 247Sports thinks. He says the Tigers need to be especially careful with their starting quarterback for the long term.

Cut 11 (13) “…ramps up more.”

____________________________________________

Baton Rouge is among the finalists to become the permanent home of the National High School Football Hall of Fame. It would honor the best high school players, coaches, teams and contributors and would preserve high school football history through exhibits and memorabilia. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser nominated Baton Rouge…

Cut 12 (06) “…in Baton Rouge.” 

The other finalists are Pittsburgh, Steubenville, Ohio; and Valdosta, Georgia – none of which, according to Nungesser, could compete with Baton Rouge.

Cut 13 (07) “…put on festivities.”

Nungesser says landing the National High School Football Hall of Fame would be a huge win for Baton Rouge and Louisiana.

Cut 14 (06) “…year after year.”

An official announcement could be made later this month or in November.

10.02.26
by

12:30 LRN Newscast

The weather forecast calls for a wet weekend, especially for south Louisiana. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected through Sunday with the potential for flash flooding beginning on Saturday and lasting through Monday. Grymes says if you are going to a game in Lafayette or Baton Rouge on Saturday night, here’s what to expect…

Cut 4 (11) “…it looks”

The Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches is ranked number one in the country for the best public high school teachers, according to the 2027 Niche rankings. LSMSA Executive Director Doctor Jason Anderson says students are challenged to pursue excellence, while learning from faculty who model those same values…

Cut 6 (08) “…every day.”

 

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt played through a hamstring injury against Texas A&M last week, but coach Lane Kiffin said that he would be cautious playing him against McNeese tomorrow. With the Tigers favored by over 50 points, LSU Radio sideline reporter Gordy Rush says he shouldn’t play at all.

Cut 9 (12)  “…next week.”

The Saints are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the “Domecoming” against the Falcons on Monday. Although kickoff is not until 7:15, the celebration begins at 4:00 in Champions Square, where Steve Gleason’s new music album, “Rebirth,” will debut. Shirin Braden, the VP of brand strategy for the Saints, says Irma Thomas will sing the national anthem, and Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue will headline a halftime show featuring Eric Church, Kirk Franklin, Juvenile and Cyril and Ivan Neville.

Cut 30 (08) “…to the dome.”

10.02.26
by

11:30 LRN Newscast

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser returned this week from a nine-day visit to Japan as he’s trying to grow visitation from the Land of the Rising Sun….

Cut 6 (07) “…several years”

Japan is the second largest overseas visitor market to the United States. Japan is the tenth largest overseas market for travel to Louisiana, with about 10-thousand visitors from that country coming to the state in 2025.

With another weekend of football ahead, all eyes are on the weather. That’s because thunderstorms could cause delays throughout the state. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says any thunderstorms that develop this evening should move out pretty quickly. However, tomorrow could be a different story.

Cut 3 (11) “…bit more prolonged.”

 

Just over 20 years after Steve Gleason’s iconic blocked punt, the Saints and Falcons will return to the Superdome on Monday Night Football. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Saints running back Travis Etienne has been placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, which means he will not play again until Week 9.

 

Will LSU starting quarterback Sam Leavitt play tomorrow? That’s the big question mark heading into the matchup against the McNeese Cowboys.

10.02.26
by

6:45 LRN Sportscast

11th ranked LSU hosts McNeese tomorrow night. Coach Lane Kiffin said we could see a lot of backups play as the Tigers look to avoid any more injuries. Safety Jhase Thomas earned his first start last week because of those injuries and says senior safety Ty Benefield was a big help in his first start.

Cut 17 (18) “…lot to me.”

Former LSU Star Angel Reese has been named the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. It’s an award that means a lot to the Bayou Barbie. In her first season in Atlanta, Reese ranked third in the WNBA in both steals per game and total steals. She also finished third in total defensive rebounds. Atlanta is in the WNBA semifinals.

 

Louisiana Tech returns to action against Army tomorrow. The Black Knights have the nation’s most productive rushing attack thanks to their trademark triple-option offense. Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie says Army hogging the time of possession is a legit concern.

Cut 19 (18) “…the first quarter.”

Rough first inning for former LSU pitcher Aaron Nola as the veteran right-hander allowed three runs in the first inning and the Braves defeated the Phillies six to two last night to advance to the N-L-D-S, where they’ll face the Dodgers.

Saints running back Travis Etienne (AY-chan) has been placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. That means Etienne will miss at least the next month. Kendre Miller and Alvin Kamara are expected to share carries when New Orleans hosts Atlanta on Monday night.

10.01.26
by

LRN PM Newscall October 1

Two Louisiana Tech students have been arrested for using a racial slur repeatedly in a social media video that went viral. Joe Gallinaro has the story….

Cut 1 (23) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

____________________________________________

Following a postgame brawl, one football team’s season is over, and another team will play the rest of the season on the road. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Forecasters are predicting rainfall totals from 1.5 to four inches of rain from today through Sunday for central and south Louisiana. Danielle Manning with the National Weather Service in Slidell says scattered thunderstorms are expected today and tomorrow and more widespread rain for south Louisiana this weekend…

Cut 3 (10) “…in this incident.”

LSU hosts McNeese on Saturday night. Southern and U-L Lafayette host homecoming games on Saturday night as well. Manning says there’s a good chance it will rain during those games….

Cut 4 (09) “…not ideal.”

Manning says locally heavy rain and flash flooding is possible for a good portion of the state on Saturday and that threat continues for southeast Louisiana on Sunday. She says some areas could receive a half foot of rain….

Cut 5 (08) “…develop.”

The best chance for rain for north Louisiana is on Sunday.

____________________________________________

If you have lots of outdoor lighting on your property, you’re asked to turn them down or off at night for the time being. That’s because this is fall migration season for birds. Charles Williams, a board member of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and the founder of Lights Out Louisiana, says bright lights are very bad for birds flying at night.

Cut 6 (09) “…lot of lighting.”

Williams says that disorientation might cause birds to fly directly into tall buildings.

Cut 7 (06) “…in North America.”

Williams says you can go to the Bird Cast website at bird cast-dot-org to follow the birds’ migration.

Cut 8 (08) “…about two weeks.”

Williams says if the lighting on your property is limited to low-intensity accent lighting, such as path lights, that should be okay. But you should keep lights like bright flood lights off late at night.

____________________________________________

The LHSAA comes down hard on a pair of football teams involved in a postgame brawl last Friday night. After Assumption’s 16-6 home victory over Carroll, some Carroll players got into a confrontation with some Assumption fans. It was serious enough that some deputies had to use their Tasers to get the situation under control. Aaron Dietrich, the sports director at KNOE-TV in Monroe, says as a result, Carroll’s season is over, and Assumption will play the remainder of its schedule on the road.

Cut 9 (14)  “…games this year.”

While Monroe City Schools said it would comply with the LHSAA’s ruling, Carroll High School and Senator Katrina Jackson Andrews both said they would fight it, filing emergency appeals.

Dietrich says Carroll had at least two similar incidents in the last 15 years; and he says last Friday, the school did not follow standard procedures when the team went down to Assumption for the game.

Cut 10 (13) “…situations like this.” 

Dietrich says the cancellation of the remaining six games of Carroll’s season has cost not just one, but two homecoming games.

Cut 11 (13) “…few weeks also.”

10.01.26
by

2:30 LRN Newscast

Following a postgame brawl, one football team’s season is over, and another team will play the rest of the season on the road. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Ruston Police have arrested two members of the Louisiana Tech Sigma Nu fraternity for producing a social media video where the N-word was used multiple times. Taylor Guerrero and Jackson Gilbert have been charged with Disturbing the Peace. Chief Eric Watson says in the video they used a loudspeaker to repeatedly shout out the racial slur.

 

The percentage of AP exams taken by Louisiana students that earned a high enough score for college credit had the largest increase of any state since 2019. Deputy State Superintendent of Education Dr. Jenna Chiasson says Louisiana’s AP score rate has improved more than twice the national rate of growth.

Cut 15 (07) “…Advanced Placement scores.”

The College Board recognizes Louisiana’s gains, but it also notes that just under 11-percent of Louisiana students who graduated from a public school last year earned a 3 or above, compared to 25-percent nationally.

The fall migration season has arrived for birds so the Louisiana Wildlife Federation is urging property owners to turn their outside lights down or off. Charles Williams, the founder of Lights Out Louisiana, says lights can disorient birds, causing them to fly into buildings…

Cut 7 (06) “…in North America”

Williams says you can go to bird-cast-dot-org to follow the birds’ migration.

10.01.26
by

1:30 LRN Newscast

Two Louisiana Tech students have been arrested for using a racial slur repeatedly in a social media video that went viral. Joe Gallinaro has the story….

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

A former New Roads police officer and volunteer firefighter will spend the rist of his life in prison after he was convicted of raping multiple boys. The Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Kedreyon Williams in July of 2024 and it only took a jury 40 minutes to find him guilty of three counts of first-degree rape and other felony charges.

 

The LHSAA has ended one school’s football season. After Assumption beat Carroll on its home field last Friday night, some Carroll players got into a brawl with some Assumption fans. As a result, the LHSAA has cancelled the remainder of Carroll’s season. KNOE-TV Sports Director Aaron Dietrich says the school did not follow standard travel procedures.

Cut 10 (13) “…situations like this.”

The LHSAA has also ruled Assumption will have to play the remainder of its games on the road.

If you have lots of outdoor lighting on your property, you’re asked to turn them down or off at night for the time being. That’s because this is fall migration season for birds. Charles Williams, a board member of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and the founder of Lights Out Louisiana, says bright lights are very bad for birds flying at night.

Cut 6 (09) “…lot of lighting.”

Williams says that disorientation might cause birds to fly directly into tall buildings.

10.01.26
by

12:30 LRN Newscast

The LHSAA has cancelled the remainder of the Carroll High football season after players from the Bulldogs got into a fight with fans  at Assumption High following the Mustangs win over Caroll last Friday. KNOE-TV sports director Aaron Dietrich says Carroll was scheduled to play Wossman tomorrow. It is Wossman’s homecoming game…

Cut 11 (13) “…also”

The LHSAA has ruled Assumption will not play anymore home games this year. So tonight they will play at Ascension Catholic at 8 PM in Donaldsonville.

Forecasters are predicting rainfall totals from 1.5 to four inches of rain from today through Sunday for central and south Louisiana. Danielle Manning with the National Weather Service in Slidell says we are looking at scattered thunderstorms today and tomorrow and more widespread rain for south Louisiana this weekend…

Cut 3 (11) “…Sunday”

Manning says some isolated areas could see six inches of rain.

During a Board of Regents meeting looking at the University of Louisiana System budget, a regent member, Wilbert Pryor, suggested U-L Lafayette, Louisiana Tech and ULM should move down to the FCS level because of the large deficits their athletic departments are facing…

Cut 6 (12) “…enrollment”

Fan bases for these schools are pushing back against these comments on social media.

The Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs is establishing the state’s first Veterans Business Outreach Center thanks to a 875-thousand grant from the U-S Small Business Administration. VA Secretary Charlton Meginley says the V-BOC will be operated by The Boot, an organization dedicated to attracting, retaining and advancing military talent across the state.

Cut 8 (12) “…house the V-BOC.”

The V-BOC will fund entrepreneurship training, counseling and technical assistance at no cost to veterans, active-duty service members and their families.

10.01.26
by

10:30 LRN Newscast

The LHSAA comes down hard on a pair of football teams involved in a postgame brawl last Friday night. After Assumption’s 16-6 home victory over Carroll, some Carroll players got into a confrontation with some Assumption fans. It was serious enough that deputies used Tasers to get the situation under control. Aaron Dietrich, the sports director at KNOE-TV in Monroe, says as a result, Carroll’s season is over, and Assumption will play the remainder of its schedule on the road.

Cut 9 (14)  “…games this year.”

To more positive news involving Louisiana public schools. The College Board has released data that shows Louisiana high school students are performing much better on AP exams. In fact, Louisiana ranks first among states in AP growth since 2019. Deputy Superintendent of Education Doctor Jenna Chiasson…

Cut 14 (07) “…whatever comes next”

 

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs secures a major grant to establish a Veterans Business Outreach Center. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has announced that LSU will be made a Distinguished Military College. This federal designation means that graduates of LSU’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program have a better chance at becoming a commissioned military officer.