6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU football visits fourth-ranked Alabama tomorrow night. The Tigers’ offense and defense have been going against each other in inside run drills, which require more physicality from the linemen. Interim Head Coach Frank Wilson says he’s pleased with his team’s tenacity in practice this week.

Cut 16 (14) “…rewarding for us.”

Linebacker Whit Weeks is doubtful with a bone bruise, but offensive lineman Carrius Curne is expected to play after he was described as questionable earlier this week.

Former LSU football coach Brian Kelly has issued his first public statement since his firing. In a social media post, Kelly said the journey began with great expectations, but sometimes the journey does not end the way you hope. He says he’ll be cheering on the Tigers against the Crimson Tide.

______________________________________________________

The Saints’ offense will be without a big weapon moving forward after New Orleans sent receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks for two draft picks. Quarterback Tyler Shough says Shaheed’s departure will create more opportunities for other receivers.

Cut 18 (18)  “…to have success.”

The Saints are at Carolina this Sunday.

 

In high school football last night, Oak Grove defeated Ouachita Christian 34-21, and Bunkie beat Marksville 49 to 24. Airline over Huntington 34 to 27, and the game of the night was in Livingston Parish as Live Oak outscored Dutchtown 56 to 53.

Tonight…ASH is at Neville, West Monroe visits Rusto,n and E-D White hosts Vandebilt Catholic.

1:30 LRN Newscast

LSU has clarified Verge Ausberry’s title. He is the athletics director according to his bio on lsu-sports-dot-net. This comes one day after new president Wade Rousse said Ausberry was the acting athletics director and his job title would be evaluated after a head football coach is hired. LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey is heartbroken over the firing of LSU AD Scott Woodward. But she is happy for Ausberry…

Cut 5 (05) “…this is his school.”

This is the week that the Louisiana Department of Treasury publishes the names of people with unclaimed property it received in the past year in newspapers throughout the state. This year, that number is 92,348. Treasurer John Fleming says the state will go to great lengths to get that money to their rightful owners. But sometimes, that’s easier said than done.

Cut 15 (10) “…why this happens.”

 

A major cold front will arrive in Louisiana this weekend, LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says we are looking at our first significant freeze Monday morning and Monday afternoon will be the coldest day in Louisiana in several months…

Cut 13 (09) “…in the South

Expect mild temperatures until the front arrives as the weather will be good for high school football games tonight and tomorrow.

A 15-year-old boy is killed in a drive-by shooting in Ruston. Ruston Police Lieutenant Kayla Loyd says the boy’s grandmother called paramedics to the home, not realizing that he had been shot.

Cut 9 (08)  “…actually been shot.”

She says the investigation is in the very early stages, and detectives are working to determine whether this was a targeted shooting or if this was random.

11:30 LRN Newscast

One day after LSU president Wade Rousse said Verge Ausberry was the acting Athletics Director, an LSU spokesperson tells the Louisiana Radio Network that Ausberry is THE director of athletics at LSU. It was reported on Tuesday night that Ausberry was the permanent A-D. Even interim head football coach Frank Wilson discussed Ausberry’s promotion on Wednesday morning as a positive step for the university…

Cut 3 (09) “….athletic program”

But yesterday confusion came about when Rousse called Ausberry the acting A-D, which is similar to interim athletics director.

Meanwhile, the LSU football team is getting ready to play fourth ranked Alabama on Saturday. Junior center Braelin Moore says the Tigers are putting more of an emphasis on committing to the run under Coach Wilson…

Cut 16 (12) “…ball against Bama.”

 

A major cold front will arrive in Louisiana this weekend, but LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says we’ll see some mild temperatures until it arrives on late Saturday night and Sunday morning…

Cut 12 (13) “…cold front passes.”

The National Weather Service says morning lows will be in the 30s for most of the state, with some areas getting below freezing.

A new poll shows widespread support for lawmakers to increase spending in early childhood education, with 65-percent of respondents saying they favor it. Libbie Sonnier, the CEO of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, says early childhood education is becoming out of reach for many families in Louisiana.

Cut 6 (07) “…over their head.”

10:30 LRN Newscast

As the federal government shutdown drags on, Senator John Kennedy is filing a pair of bills aimed at making lawmakers feel the same financial pain as workers who are not getting paid. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Ruston Police Department is investigating the fatal drive-by-shooting of a 15-year-old. It happened around 3 Am this morning on Second Avenue. The identity of the victim has not been released and police say investigators are actively working the case.

 

A new report reveals Louisiana is among the worst in the nation for diagnosing lung cancer early. Eric Weinzettle, the director of advocacy for the American Lung Association, says their report finds that Louisiana is ranked 40th for new lung cancer cases and 45th for cases diagnosed at an early stage. Weinzettle says the number-one cause of lung cancer is smoking, and Louisiana has the fifth highest smoking rate in the country at almost 16-percent of adults.

Cut 5 (08) “…50s and 60s.”

A major cold front is coming for Louisiana, LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin  says we are looking at our first significant freeze Monday morning and Monday will be the coldest day in Louisiana in several months…

Cut 13 (09) “…in the South

8:30 LRN Newscast

Apparently, Verge Ausberry is not LSU’s permanent athletics director as was reported Tuesday night. New LSU system president Wade Rousse said in two different media interviews yesterday that Ausberry is the acting athletics director. Rousse says Ausberry has full authority to hire a football coach and it will be assessed at a later time if Ausberry will be the full-time A-D.

Are you on the list? Andre Champagne reports this is the week to look in your local newspaper to find out.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

 

Louisiana U-S Senator John Kennedy has filed legislation that says as long as the federal government is shutdown, members of Congress will not be paid. Kennedy also filed a bill that says members of Congress will have their pay escrowed and will receive it after the government re-opens. Kennedy says he’s introducing the latter just in case the former runs into constitutional issues…

Cut 8 (10) “….flavors of bills”

A 46-year-old Slidell preschool teacher helped Police catch a suspected shoplifter. Police Chief Daniel Seuzenau says Lesli Smith saw a suspect fleeing in a getaway car and offered Sergeant Jeff Kahrs a ride. He coached her during the chase while telling patrol units where the suspects were headed. Smith says she was glad to help her town’s police department that works hard to keep their community safe…

Cut 30 (12) “…went shopping.”

7:30 LRN Newscast

As the federal government shutdown drags on, Senator John Kennedy is filing a pair of bills aimed at making lawmakers feel the same financial pain as workers who are not getting paid.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana has suspended its plan to fund the SNAP program this month. That’s because the USDA has said it will issue half of the typical monthly SNAP benefits for November after they were ordered to do so by the courts. L-D-H says all eligible SNAP recipients will receive a portion of their benefits tomorrow, including able-bodied workers.

A new report from the American Lung Association says Louisiana ranks 45th in the nation in early diagnosis of lung cancer, at 25-percent, while nationally its 28-percent. Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association, Eric Weinzettle says C-T scans of high-risk individuals are one way to catch this disease earlier, and biomarker testing can help doctors decide on different treatment options, possibly avoiding chemotherapy.

Cut 6 (13) “…to biomarker testing.”

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Louisiana.

This week the Louisiana Department of Treasury is publishing 92-thousand names in your local newspaper that are owed unclaimed property. State Treasurer John Fleming says there are many reasons that money ends up going unclaimed…

Cut 14 (10) “….they had it”

Fleming says all state residents should check their local newspaper to see if they are on the list.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Apparently, Verge Ausberry is not LSU’s permanent athletics director as was reported Tuesday night. New LSU system president Wade Rousse said in two different media interviews yesterday that Ausberry is the acting athletics director. Rousse says Ausberry has full authority to hire a football coach and it will be assessed at a later time if Ausberry will be the full-time A-D.

Meanwhile, the LSU football team is preparing to face fourth ranked Alabama. Center Braelin Moore says it’s been a good week of practice…

Cut 17 (11) “…energy right now”

Interim head coach Frank Wilson says star linebacker Whit Weeks is doubtful with a bone bruise on his ankle, but offensive lineman Carrius Curne is trending in the right direction to play. Kick off in Tuscaloosa is at 6:30

 

Louisiana Tech is at Delaware on Saturday. Bulldogs leading rusher Clay Thevenin rushed for 143 yards in last week’s win over Sam Houston and leads the team with 439 rushing yards. Coach Sonny Cumbie says Thevenin’s efforts in practice are translating to production on gameday…

Cut 20 (16) “….been really consistent”

Tech and Delaware kick off at 2 PM on Saturday.

In Saints news…running back Alvin Kamara was limited in practice yesterday with an ankle injury and right tackle Tallese Fuaga did not practice with an ankle injury. New Orleans is at Carolina on Sunday.

The Pelicans won their second straight last night as New Orleans beat Dallas 101 to 99. The Pels are now 2-6 on the season.

 

The LSU men’s basketball team won its season opener last night, a 96-60 win over Tarleton State.

6:30 LRN Newscast

A new report reveals that Louisiana is among the worst in the nation for diagnosing lung cancer early. Eric Weinzettle, the director of advocacy for the American Lung Association, says their report finds that Louisiana is ranked 40th for new lung cancer cases and 45th for cases diagnosed at an early stage.

Cut 4 (13) “…catch it early.”

Weinzettle says lung cancer screenings with annual CT scans for for people at high risk can reduce the lung cancer death rate by up to 20-percent.

Louisiana U-S Senator John Kennedy has filed legislation that says as long as the federal government is shutdown, members of Congress will not be paid. Kennedy also filed a bill that says members of Congress will have their pay escrowed and will receive it after the government re-opens. Kennedy says there is precedent for his second bill…

Cut 9 (12) “…got their paychecks”

Kennedy says at that point, lawmakers got down to business, reached a deal and reopened government – and that’s what his bills are designed to do.

A major cold front is coming for Louisiana, but LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says we’ll see some mild temperatures until it arrives…

Cut 12 (13) “…cold front passes”

A big issue for today is that most of the state is under a dense fog advisory this morning.

The Louisiana Department of Treasury has published the names of people with unclaimed property it received in the past year. This year, that number is 92,348. State Treasurer John Fleming says that could come in many forms, including tax refunds, insurance payments or bank deposits.

`Cut 13 (07)  “…unclaimed properties division.”

You can see if you are owed unclaimed property by looking at any newspaper that still publishes a print edition. They are listing the names this week.

4:30 LRN Newscast

Sources say LSU will remove the interim tag from Verge Ausberry and the New Iberia native will be the permanent athletics director at LSU. Jeanne Burns has more

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

The Louisiana Health Department announces SNAP benefit distribution will resume Friday. This comes after some SNAP recipients saw their food stamps removed from their E-B-T cards after receiving them over the weekend. It’s because the state-funded program was suspended as USDA will now partially fund the program as a result of a court order.

 

A 46-year-old preschool teacher has received the Slidell Police Department’s Citizen Award for helping officers catch a suspected shoplifter. Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau says Lesli Smith offered a ride to Sergeant Jeff Kahrs after the suspect fled a department store in a getaway car…

Cut 9 (13) “…Slidell Police Department”

When Officer Kahrs jumped into the vehicle he radioed to other patrol units the whereabouts of the suspect’s vehicle and it resulted in the arrest of two people.

Mississippi Democrats have broken the Republican supermajority in the state senate. Shreveport-based political analyst Scott Hughes…

Cut 14 (10) “…broke the supermajority”

It will mark the first time in 13 years in which Republicans will not have at least a two-thirds majority in the Mississippi state senate.

3:30 LRN Newscast

Not only does LSU have a new president, but the Baton Rouge campus also has a new chancellor again. The positions of president and chancellor were combined in 2012, but it was new president Wayde Rousse’s desire to separate the roles again…

Cut 3 (10) “…the search.”

The LSU Board of Supervisors appointed Rousse as president and one of the other three finalists, Alabama provost James Dalton has been named chancellor of the flagship campus.

 

The LSU football team is preparing to play fourth ranked Alabama on Saturday. Athletics Director Verge Ausberry says interim coach Frank Wilson is taking the team to Tuscaloosa to win…

Cut 7 (09) “…chips lay”

A 46-year-old Slidell preschool teacher helped Police catch a suspected shoplifter. Police Chief Daniel Seuzenau says Lesli Smith saw a suspect fleeing in a getaway car and offered Sergeant Jeff Kahrs a ride. He coached her during the chase while telling patrol units where the suspects were headed. Smith says she was glad to help her town’s police department that works hard to keep their community safe…

Cut 11 (12) “…went shopping.”

Tuesday night was a good night for Democrats. Democratic candidates were victories in the New Jersey and Virginia governors’ races and Shreveport-based political analyst Scott Hughes says Democrats were also victorious in Georgia…

Cut 13 (09) “…public service commission”