Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

03.17.25
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6:30 LRN Newscast

For now, tomorrow’s execution of Jessie Hoffman is back on. On Friday, a three-judge panel at the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the ruling by U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick that granted Hoffman a delay in his execution. Loyola University New Orleans College of Law professor Dane Ciolino says he’s surprised that the Fifth Circuit acted as quickly as it did.

Cut 10 (07) “…the issues presented.”

Hoffman is scheduled to be put to death for kidnapping, raping and killing Molly Elliott in 1996. Hoffman was 18 years old at the time, while Elliot was 28. She was abducted in downtown New Orleans and her body was found in St. Tammany Parish.

Time to fill out your NCAA Tournament college basketball brackets. The McNeese men’s team will face Clemson on Thursday afternoon and the Lady Tigers will host San Diego State on Saturday night. Coach Kim Mulkey….

Cut 13 (14) “…start watching film”

Southern women’s basketball will play U-C San Diego on Wednesday night in L-A.

Suspended LSU Law Professor Ken Levy spoke with Talk Louisiana host Jim Engster about where he stands with his lawsuit against LSU. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Destruction near the town of Kentwood from a tornado on Saturday. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office says 30 homes were destroyed. The National Weather Service has given a preliminary rating of EF 3, which means its winds were 136 to 165 miles per hour. No injuries reported.

03.15.25
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7:30 LRN Sportscast

The top ranked LSU baseball team started SEC play with a 12-5 win over Missouri for the Tigers 13th straight win. LSU scored five runs in the fourth inning. Left fielder Derek Curiel’s three-run triple was the big hit in that inning. Kade Anderson was the winning pitcher as he struck out 11 and allowed three runs. Game two of the series is tonight at 6 PM.

 

Earlier in the day, LSU announced that Sandy Bertman, the wife of LSU legendary coach Skip Bertman, has passed away at the age of 87. Skip and Sandy Bertman were married for 63 years and was described as a tremendous source of strength and support for Skip during his run as the head coach of the Tigers and athletics director.

 

In other action…Louisiana Tech outscored Wichita State 27 to 12. Eli Berch hit a home run and drove in seven runs. In the Sun Belt, the Cajuns lost to 21st-ranked Troy four to three, and James Madison defeated ULM ten to four.

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At the boys state championships,…Plainview won the Class C Title as the Hornets are state champions for the first time since 1965. Hamilton Chrisitan won its first state championship. Country Day defeated Calvary Baptist as the Cajuns won their eighth state title, Franklin repeated as a state champs and Lacassine won its first state title since 1976.

 

Today at noon. St, Thomas More battles St. Augustine in the division one select state championship game. Marksville will face Richwood in Division Three non-select, and Wossman battles Bossier.

 

Selection Sunday is tomorrow…the Lady Tigers are expected to be a three seed in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. LSU is expected to sent out to the Spokane Region, where USC or UCLA. As the three-seed, LSU will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

 

McNeese is projected as the 12-seed. The Cowboys were a 12-seed last year and lost to Gonzaga.

 

LSU football says it will not host a spring game on April 12th, instead it will be an open practice and autograph session afterwards.

03.14.25
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

Today is the start of SEC play in baseball, but it’s a somber mood around the LSU baseball program. That’s because the wife of legendary baseball coach Skip Bertman, Sandy Bertman, has passed away at the age of 87. Skip and Sandy were married for 63 years and she right there with him when he led LSU to five national championships in the 1990s.

Tiger Rag Editor Glen Guilbau wrote the official biography of Skip Bertman called “Everything Matters in Baseball, and Guilbeau says Sandy took after her husband in many ways….

Cut 8 (10) “…to be around”

Skip and Sandy met in Miami in 1961 as they were both teaching at the same school. After a short courtship, the couple got married in 1962 and they went on to raise four daughters and they have four grandchildren.

 

Sunday is Selection Sunday and ESPN Women’s college basketball bracketologist Charlie Crème has LSU as a three-seed, which means the Lady Tigers will host the first two rounds in Baton Rouge. They were a three-seed when they won the national championship two years ago. Crème says LSU’s top three players are as good as anyone in the country…

Cut 14 (11) “…rest of the roster”

The women’s bracket will be released at 7 PM on Sunday. The men’s bracket will be released at 6 PM on Sunday. ESPN projects McNeese as a 12-seed in the Indianapolis Regional, playing Ole Miss.

At the boys basketball tournament…Plainview won its first state championship since 1964 by beating Pleasant Hill 58 to 54.

Tonight…Vinton seeks its first state title as the Lions face the Franklin Hornets. The Hornets are trying to repeat as division four non-select state champs. Tip off is at 6 pM.

03.14.25
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

The wife of legendary LSU baseball coach and athletic director Skip Bertman has passed away. Sandy Bertman died last night in Baton Rouge at the age of 87. She and Skip were married for 63 years, raising four daughters, one of whom succumbed to cancer in 2012. Funeral arrangements are pending.

After breezing through the pre-conference schedule with a 17-and-1 record, the LSU Tigers open up SEC play this afternoon against the Missouri Tigers. Coach Jay Johnson says his team is ready for the 30-game SEC grind…

Cut 16 (19″….businesses as usual.”

LSU catches a break with their first opponent in SEC play. Missouri is just 8-and-8 on the season and could finish in last place in the league. First pitch has been moved up to 4:30 to avoid the potential for rain later tonight.

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The season came to end last night for the Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team as the Bulldogs lost in double overtime 77 to 75 to Middle Tennessee in the Conference USA Tournament. Daniel Batcho only played 16 minutes last night as he suffered an injury in the first half. The Bulldogs were also just 1-of-15 from three-point range.

Grambling plays Alabama State in the SWAC semifinals today at 1 PM.

The championship round begins today in the boys high school basketball tournament. Five champions will be crowned today. The first game is Pleasant Hill against Plainview. Southern Lab will face Hamilton Christian. Calvary Baptist will take on Country Day, Franklin will try to repeat as state champs as the Hornets take on Vinton and Avoyelles Public Charter will place Lacassine in the Class B state final. Lacassine is in the state championship game for the first tine since 1976. All the games can be seen on the LHSAA Network.

03.14.25
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6:45 LRN Sportscast

The top-ranked LSU baseball team opens SEC play today by hosting Missouri. The game has been moved up to 4:30 to avoid the potential for severe weather later tonight. The Tigers are 17-and-1, and several players have emerged, including catcher Luis Hernandez. Coach Jay Johnson says Hernandez has done a good job handling the pitchers…

Cut 17 (22) “…we needed”

LSU has a chance to get off to a good start in SEC play as Missouri is expected to finish near the bottom.

Sun Belt play begins this weekend. The Ragin Cajuns host 21st-ranked Troy, while ULM is at James Madison.

Tough ending to the season for Louisiana Tech men’s basketball. The Bulldogs lost in double overtime to Middle Tennessee 77 to 75. Tech rallied back from 10 points down in the second half to force overtime. Sean Newman missed a three-pointer to win the game in the first overtime. And the Blue Raiders won the game in the second overtime on a tip in.

At the high school boys basketball tournament…St. Thomas More’s John Luke Bourque short baseline jumper at the buzzer gave the Cougars a 46 to 44 win over John Curtis in the Division one select semifinals. S-T-M also won its quarterfinals game on a last-second, three-pointer at the buzzer. The Cougars will play St. Aug in the Division one select finals.

In the Division One non-select finals…it will be Central versus Zachary. The Broncos pulled away in the second half to beat Natchitoches Central 65 to 45 and  the Wildcats defeated Denham Springs 62-56.

03.13.25
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

Saints defensive end Chase Young met with the media today after signing a new three-year 51-million dollar contract. Young is only 25-years-old, but has already had a serious knee injury and underwent neck surgery last offseason. But he was able to appear in all 17 games last season for the Saints and wanted to build on his year in New Orleans….

Cut 11 (11) “….football”

At LSU spring practice, one of the new faces is the nation’s number one running back from high school. Harlem Berry from St. Martin’s High School in Metairie rushed for 21-hundred yards and 41 touchdowns last season and Coach Brian Kelly says Berry already has great instincts…

Cut 17 (12) “…Harlem Berry”

Berry is currently the third string running back behind Caden Durham and Kaleb Jackson.

 

Matt McMahon has led the McNeese Cowboys back to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season as the Pokes defeated Lamar in yesterday’s Southland Tournament Championship game.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein”

 

At the state boys basketball championships…St. Thomas More is heading back to the Division One select state championship game as the Cougars defeated John Curtis 46 to 44 at the buzzer. The Cougars play St. Aug on Saturday afternoon.

 

Tonight…Natchitoches Central will try to upset Zachary in the Division one select semifinals.

03.13.25
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

The McNeese men’s basketball team is headed back to the NCAA Tournament after beating Lamar 63 to 54 in the championship game of the Southland Men’s basketball tournament. The Pokes cut down the nets for the second year in a row in front of their fans at the Legacy Center. The Cowboys will be looking for their first ever win in the Big Dance. Last year, they lost as a 12-seed to fifth seeded Gonzaga. Senior guard Jahvon Garcia says that loss has served as motivation…

Cut 19 (14) “….fans were amazing”

An amazing upset in the SWAC Tournament, as Grambling defeated top seeded Southern, rallying back from a 13-point deficit in the second half to beat the Jaguars 65 to 62 overtime.

Mississippi State ended LSU’s awful season in the SEC Tournament and La Tech takes on Middle Tennessee in the Conference USA Tournament today.

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Saints defensive end Cam Jordan announced on social media he is returning to the Black and Gold for a 15th season. Jordan said his contract has been reworked so the 35-year-old could play at least one more season in New Orleans. Jordan saw his playing time increase last year after Dennis Allen was fired.

 

Spring football got underway this week for the LSU Tigers and it’s a chance for quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to start working with his new skill position players on offense. The Tigers have 16 transfers who have joined the program, including several new wide receivers and a tight end. Coach Brian Kelly this is a good time to get that connection down…

Cut 16 (20) “…last year.”

03.13.25
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6:45 LRN Sportscast

The McNeese Cowboys are headed to the Big Dance for a second consecutive year after winning the Southland Conference Tournament in Lake Charles  beating their biggest rival Lamar 63 to 54. Quadir (qwah deer) Copeland led the way with 18 points. The transfer from Syracuse is going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time…

Cut 20 (13) “…was amazing”

The defending champs of the SWAC Tournament, the Grambling Tigers, upset top seeded Southern 65 to 62 in overtime. Tough loss for the Jaguars who won 20 games this year. Meanwhile, Grambling will play again on Friday.

LSU’s season ended last night with a 91 to 62 loss to Mississippi State. The Tigers finish Matt McMahon’s third season with a 14-and-18 record.

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A new league year is underway in the NFL and the Saints officially announced the signing of safety Justin Reid. The former Dutchtown star comes to New Orleans after winning two Super Bowls with the Chiefs. The Saints also announced the trade that sent defensive tackle Davon Godchaux of Plaquemine from New England to New Orleans for a seventh round pick in 2026.

Spring football got underway this week for the LSU Tigers and it’s a chance for quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to start working with his new skill position players on offense. The Tigers have 16 transfers who have joined the program, including several new wide receivers and a tight end. Coach Brian Kelly this is a good time to get that connection down…

Cut 16 (20) “…last year.”

03.12.25
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

The top ranked LSU baseball team has won 12 in a row after last night’s 18 to 4 victory over Xavier of Ohio. Jared Jones and Daniel Dickinson got the Tigers off to a hot start with home runs in the first inning. Tanner Reaves hit a grand slam in the third inning to give the Tigers a 17 to 0 lead. Jake Brown had three run scoring singles and talked about the ride this team is on….

Cut 21 (14) “….complement”

LSU will begin SEC play on Friday by hosting Missouri.

The fourth ranked LSU softball team put a beat down on its in-state rival U L Lafayette yesterday, blanking the Cajuns 14 to 0.

A huge upset in the quarterfinals of the SWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament as eighth Grambling takes on top seeded Southern 65 to 62 in overtime. The Jaguars just won a regular season title, but the Tigers are defending their SWAC Tournament title from a year ago.

 

A new league year starts in the NFL today and the Saints have announced their trade with New England that brings them former LSU star and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from New England in exchange for a seventh round draft pick in 2026. Luke Johnson covers the Saints for the Advocate and says the Saints needed a nose tackle to play in defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s three-four scheme…

Cut 17 (17)  “…is a win.”

LSU has officially announced Kyle Williams as its new defensive line coach, signing him to a three-year contract. The Tigers have had a new defensive line coach for six straight seasons. But Head Coach Brian Kelly is hopeful Williams is here to stay…

Cut 14 (09) “…that perspective.”

03.12.25
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2:30 LRN Newscast

On the heels of a legal challenge to Amendment 2’s inclusion on the March 29th ballot now comes an effort to get amendments 1 and 3 pulled. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

During a speech at the Monroe Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Governor Jeff Landry says he’s preparing an executive order that will greatly curtail work from home options for state workers…

Cut 15 (09) “….everybody back”

 

The U-S Department of Education is laying off more than 13-hundred workers, which is half of its staff. The massive reduction in workers comes as President Trump has discussed dismantling the federal agency. Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley supports the idea of eliminating the department of education and allow the states to decide their educational needs…

Cut 6 (07) “…excellence.”

Education Secretary Linda McMahon says she wants to reduce the bloat at the U-S Department of Education, which she believes will result in more federal dollars for local education.

Former LSU All-American Kyle Williams is now teaching defensive tackles at LSU as he’s the Tigers new defensive line coach. Williams started his new when spring practice began on Saturday and Coach Brian Kelly says the former NFL star knows how to coach the position…

Cut 13 (13) “…to me”

Williams has signed a three-year contract to be the defensive line coach at LSU.