Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

11.08.19
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU fans are hoping this is the year. Can the Fighting Tigers finally beat Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide for the first time since 2011. Quarterback Joe Burrow says the recent history of this series is not causing any extra pressure…
cut 15 (12) “…us too”
And if you are thinking about jumping into your car and traveling to Tuscaloosa to catch the big game, it will cost you. Here’s Stubhub’s Adam Budelli….
cut 10 (11) “…per ticket”

LSU basketball tips off a new season tonight as the defending SEC champs host Bowling Green. The Pelicans try for just their second win on the season when they host Toronto.

La Tech will look to win its eighth in a row when they host North Texas for homecoming tomorrow. The Mean Green are 4-and-5, but Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz says they have one of the best players in the league, Q-B Mason Fine…
cut 18 (21) “him compete”
The Bulldogs are in first place in the Conference USA western division with a 4-0 record.

In other action tomorrow, ULM looks to snap a two-game losing streak as the Warhawks host Georgia State.

In the Southland, Southeastern Louisiana is at conference leader Central Arkansas. Nicholls hosts Houston Baptist and Northwestern State hosts Lamar.

Grambling State is also home to face Alcorn State.

Sunday its the Saints and Falcons. New Orleans looks to be very healthy after having last weekend off. Kick-off in the Dome is at noon.

11.08.19
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

It’s rivalry weekend for LSU and Saints fans. The Fighting Tigers take on Alabama tomorrow. The Bayou Bengals are looking to snap an eight-game losing streak to the Tide. Quarterback Joe Burrow says they need no extra motivation…
cut 13 (09) “…place”
Kick off is at 2:30.

The Saints face their biggest rival when they host the Falcons at noon. Atlanta is a dreadful one and seven, but they lead the NFL in passing yards. Coach Sean Payton says the Dirty Birds are still explosive…
Cut 16 (25) …situations’.

The Ragin Cajuns won their fourth straight game yesterday and they remain undefeated on the road this year as U-L Lafayette thumped Coastal Carolina 49-7. Levi Lewis threw three touchdown passes as the offense scored on all four of its first-half drives.

Louisiana Tech is coming off a bye and they are receiving votes in the AP and Top 25 coaches poll as they host North Texas tomorrow. The Bulldogs are in a position to win the West division in Conference, but Coach Skip Holtz says there are still four games left…
cut 19 (22) “…themselves”

In basketball tonight, LSU tips off a new season by hosting Bowling Green and the Pelicans face the Raptors at the Smoothie KIng Center.

11.08.19
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LRN Sportscast

LSU leaves Baton Rouge today for Alabama where they’ll play the Crimson Tide in a game that will decide who will win the SEC West. The Purple and Gold were embarrassed 29-0 in front of the home crowd last year by Saban’s Crimson Tide. Quarterback Joe Burrow says this year’s team is a lot more experienced and prepared.
Cut 14 (11) “Joe”
LSU also feels it can compete with Alabama along the line of scrimmage. We will find out at 2:30.

The Ragin Cajuns had their second straight dominating win as U-L Lafayette crushed Coastal Carolina 48-7 last night. Quarterback Levi Lewis had a big game, 296 yards passing and three touchdowns. U-L is now 7-and-2.

La Tech will look to improve to 8-and-1 when the Bulldogs host North Texas tomorrow. The Mean Green are led by Mason Fine, who has thrown 27 Tds.

After missing the last two games with a high ankle sprain, Saints running back Alvin Kamara is expected to play Sunday versus Atlanta. Latavius Murray did well filling in for the injured Kamara. Coach Sean Payton says they’ll be smart with how they use Kamara, but they have two backs they can count on…
cut 17 (25) “…rotation”
Cornerback Patrick Robinson and tight end Josh HIll were the only two players limited at practice yesterday.

High school football, Neville knocked off Huntington 56-6, Calvary Baptist crushed Arcadia 48-8, Oak Grove cut down Cedar Creek 55-16, Sterington shutout Carroll 28-zip and Alexandria defeated West Ouachita 35-13.

11.07.19
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4:45 LRN Sportscast November 7

A win for LSU on Saturday against Alabama and the Tigers will take a big step forward towards a berth in the four-team college football playoff. LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire says the team understands the high stakes…
Cut 17 (23) this area ”
The Tigers have won seven of their last eight games against Top 10 teams. The only loss during that time was last year’s 29-0 defeat against Alabama.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said today that he fully expects Alvin Kamar will play this Sunday against the Falcons. Kamara missed the last two games because of a high ankle sprain. The first two games of his career that he’s missed because of injuries.

The college football weekend gets underway tonight with the Ragin Cajuns facing Coastal Carolina. U-L Lafayette lost to Coastal last year and Cajuns Coach Billy Napier says they are better than what their four and four record shows this year….
cut 20 (11) “…they have’
Coastal won its first league game last week, a 36-35 victory over Troy.

Saturday will be a big day of football in northeast Louisiana. Grambling hosts Alcorn State, Louisiana Tech takes on North Texas for homecoming and ULM will host Georgia State.

In nearby Natchitoches, Northwestern State hosts Lamar, Nicholls will host Houston Baptist and Southeastern Louisiana is at Central Arkansas. The Bears are in first place in the Southland.

The Pelicans will host the Raptors tomorrow night. Zion Williamson continues to rehab and no timetable has been established on when he’ll return.

LSU basketball tips off its season tomorrow at home against Bowling Green.

11.07.19
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LRN PM Newscall November 7

The Traveling Tigers are hitting the road tomorrow for the most anticipated game of the season. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon releases the halftime reports on the first four days of early voting.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”    

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All eyes are on Tuscaloosa this weekend for the biggest game in college football and the LSU’s Traveling Tigers are making the trip as well. According to Alumni Engagement Travel Manager Ali Brooks the Bama trip sold out in July. Brooks says they will load up buses tomorrow morning in Baton Rouge and hit the road.

Cut 3 (12)   “…to Tuscaloosa” 

Brooks says even if you aren’t traveling with the group and will be in Alabama this weekend, Tiger fans can participate in events the group is holding before the game.

Cut 4 (11) “in Tuscaloosa.”

For more information about tickets to the all-inclusive tailgate visit lsu-alumni-dot-org.

Brooks says LSU was allotted five-thousand tickets for the game but she says many Tiger fans are being resourceful and finding tickets on the secondary market.

Cut 5 (11) “…ready for” 

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Last night’s Presidential rally in Monroe may have been held to hype Eddie Rispone to north Louisiana Republicans, but impeachment ended up taking center stage for most of the night.

President Trump got some of his biggest applause lines of the night going after familiar targets like Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and the media over their handling of the Ukraine scandal…

Cut 6 (08) “…*boos*”

Eddie Rispone worked impeachment into his stump speech, using it to attack Governor Edwards’ party affiliation…

Cut 7 (11) “…me in”

The Edwards campaign says the attack was just another example of Rispone trying to make the local race about national issues.

And US Senator John Kennedy dropped maybe the most controversial line of the night and one that’s got him a lot of play on national TV this morning.

Cut 8 (12) “*cheers*.”

Kennedy made the comments in the context of President Trump’s economic record.

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Turnout remains strong as the first four days of early voting has resulted in 295,000 showing up to the ballot box.  JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon says he would not be surprised if nearly 500,000 total votes are cast when early voting wraps up.  That’s a boost from the primary.

Cut 9 (06)  “…in the primary.”

Only one time has early voting broke the half-million mark and that was with 2016 President with 531,000 votes.

Couvillon says he predicts a Democratic surge on Saturday as data shows a disproportionate number of Democrats wait until the last minute to early vote.  As for which parish will likely see the biggest increase in voters versus the primary…

Cut 10 (07) “…was Orleans.”

Couvillon expects early voting to account for roughly a third of all votes cast in this election, with the overall participation in the runoff eclipsing the primary.

Cut 11 (08) “…in the primary..”

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Campaign finance reports are out for the late September to late October fundraising period and Eddie Rispone has seen a fundraising explosion since entering the run-off.

Rispone pulled in 2.9 million dollars during the period. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says that because Rispone has the full weight of the GOP behind him.

Cut  12 (11) “now” 

Edwards raised 5.2 million during the period.

Pinsonat says you’ll start to see a lot more local Republican money pour into the race because donors won’t have to fear playing favorites like in the primary.

Cut 13 (09) “…situation”

Both campaigns are sprinting to the finish line with just over a week left before voters hit the polls. Pinsonat says the campaigns need any donations in by Wednesday at the latest.

Cut 14 (07) “…Thursday.”

The election will be held next Saturday, November 16th.

11.07.19
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7:30 LRN Newscast November 7

Busy day for Monroe yesterday as President Trump and Governor Edwards threw dueling campaign rallies…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A cold front will push across Louisiana today, dropping temps ahead of what should be a chilly weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the front will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms to the state.
Cut 11 (06) “…so relatively light.”
High temps tomorrow in the 50s and near-freezing temperatures Saturday morning.

The town of Tuscaloosa in Alabama will be overrun by college football fans on Saturday for the big SEC showdown between the Tigers and Crimson Tide. CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama Jim Page says T-Town has a population of about 100-thousand, but that won’t be the case Saturday…
cut 9 (09) “….case this Saturday”
Page encourages fans to get on campus or downtown early, especially since President Donald Trump is expected to attend the game.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is looking to hire 24 new enforcement agents. Qualified cadets must have at least four years of military experience, or a two-year degree from a technical college, or 60 semester hours from a university. LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says a six-month training program will begin in March…
cut 15 (08) “…stuff”
If interested, apply at the Department of Civil Service’s Website.

11.07.19
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6:45 LRN Sportscast November 7

Alabama Coach Nick Saban tells ESPN that his star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has made strides and there’s a good chance he’ll play Saturday against LSU. LSU safety Jacoby Stevens says they are covering all of their bases and they are preparing for backup Mac Jones too…
cut 18 (16) “….they have”
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow did not have a good game against Alabama last year as he threw for 184 yards and an interception in a shutout loss at home. But a report in Sports Illustrated says Burrow separated his throwing shoulder two days before the game.

LSU Safety Grant Delpit still has yet to practice this week, but Coach Ed Orgeron still expects Delpit to play Saturday. He suffered a sprain ankle in the win over Auburn.

The bye week appears to have helped the Saints get healthy ahead of their game this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Tight end Jared Cook and receiver Tre’Quan Smith were full participants. Running back Alvin Kamara was limited, but there’s optimism he’ll play this Sunday at noon.

After beating Texas State for homecoming on Saturday, the Ragin Cajuns are back at it tonight as they visit Coastal Carolina. U-L Lafayette Coach Billy Napier says Coastal is not easy to prepare for on a short week…
cut 19 (23), players”
Coastal is coming off its first league win, a 36-35 victory over Troy.

College hoops last night, Tulane topped Southeastern Louisiana 76-55, Louisiana Tech defeated Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 82-49, Western Michigan downed McNeese 75-65 and Northwestern State lost at Texas A-and-M 77-63.

11.07.19
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6:30 LRN Newscast November 7

Monroe was a political hotbed yesterday as Governor John Bel Edwards and President Donald Trump descended on the city as the 2019 Louisiana Governor’s race heats up. Thousands crammed into the Monroe Civic Center to hear the President hype up Republican candidate Eddie Rispone….
Cut 4 (11) “…extreme left.”
Before the President’s arrival, Edwards spoke to hundreds of supporters at a Monroe park. Edwards slammed Rispone for calling for tax cuts that the Governor says would wreck higher education. He also warned against Rispone’s plans for Medicaid…
Cut 7 (09) “…Louisiana”
Early voting for the November 16th election continues through Saturday.

Tiger fans headed to Tuscaloosa for the big game are urged to have patience on Saturday as the city will be swamped with football fans…
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is looking for new enforcement agents to help preserve the Sportsman’s Paradise. LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says applications will be accepted for until November 24th and they hope to hire 24 cadets interested in making the outdoors their next office.
Cut 14 (12) “…hunters”
You can apply at the Department of Civil service’s website.

11.06.19
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3:30 LRN Newscast November 6

President Donald Trump will rally Republican voters in northeast Louisiana tonight with what is expected to be a lively speech at the Monroe Civic Center. Trump is in the Bayou State to support Republican Gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone. LSU political science researcher Mike Henderson says based on the polling he’s seen, the impeachment inquiry into Trump has not led to more voters for Rispone….
cut 7 (11) “…remained pretty steady”

Public school report cards were released today. State Superintendent of Education John White says there were 219 schools identified as in need of comprehensive improvement and 39-percent saw an improved performance score of three-percent or higher….
cut 11 (07) “….state”
In the first college football playoff ranking, LSU is number two, behind Ohio State. Alabama is ranked third, Penn State Fourth. So two teams from the SEC and Big 10 are in the top four, but Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says that will change
Cut 5 (08) “… self out”
LSU is at Alabama this Saturday and the other big game is Penn State at Minnesota.

Renown Pointe Coupee Parish Pulitzer-nominated author, and former UL Lafayette Writer-in-Residence Ernest Gaines passed away at the age of 86 at his home near New Roads. Gaines moved to California in his teens because African Americans did not have a high school at that time in Pointe Coupee. Gaines returned home in the 80s after living in San Francisco.
Cut 13 (11) “…changed”
Much of Gaines’ work focuses on the experience of African Americans living in the Jim Crow south.

11.06.19
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4:45 LRN Sportscast November 6

Alabama Football Coach Nick Saban said quarterback Tua Tagvailoa is doing ok at practice this week and it’s still a game-time decision as to whether he plays against LSU. On October 20th, Tua underwent a procedure to fix a high ankle sprain. The injury forced him to win one game.

LSU linebacker K-Lavon Chaisson says they expect Tua to be 100-percent Saturday and the plan is to get him on the ground…
cut 18 (19) “….the game”

In the first college football playoff ranking, LSU is number two, behind Ohio State, which is a surprise to many Tiger fans. Alabama is ranked third, Penn State Fourth.

The Falcons will likely have two of their top players back for Sunday’s game against the Saints in the Dome. Coach Dan Quinn said today that quarterback Matt Ryan and cornerback Desmond Trufrant have returned to practice. Rayn missed Atlanta’s last game with an ankle sprain and Trufant has been out since week five with a toe injury.

And the Saints are also getting healthier. Running back Alvin Kamara, tight end Jared Cook, wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith and cornerback Patrick Robinson were back on the practice field today for the portion viewed by the media.

In college basketball last night, the Ragin Cajuns and ULM were easy winners last night. UL-Lafayette dunked Loyola of New Orleans 94-41, while the Warhawks flew past Louisiana College 95-57. Nicholls nearly upset Illinois as they lost to the Big 10 school 78-70 in overtime.

In action tonight, Louisiana Tech is at Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi. Tulane will host Southeastern Louisiana. Both schools have first year coaches. Ron Hunter for the Green Wave, and Lions new head man is David Kiefer. Northwestern State, who beat Centenary last night, will be at Texas A-and-M tonight. And McNeese visits Western Michigan.