Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

03.29.19
by

LRN PM Newscall March 29

Legislation has been filed that would require restaurants to update Louisiana seafood menus with the country of origin of imported shrimp and mudbugs. Connor Ferrill has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Connor Ferrill”

____________________________

Authorities arrest three people in the brutal murder of an elderly Zachary woman who was found bound with duct tape by her husband. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

_____________________________________________

New legislation could place the country of origin of imported mudbugs and shrimp on the local seafood menu. Larose Representative Truck Gisclair says if the crustaceans are from out of the country he wants to know…

Cut 3 (07) “…from.”

The bill will be heard in the legislative session that begins on April 9.

Gisclair says he is not concerned with labeling shrimp and crawfish from states like Texas and Alabama. He says the economic boost of buying Louisiana shrimp is beneficial but health concerns of imported shrimp are the paramount issue…

Cut 4 (12) “…imported meats″

Gisclair says specifying country of origin is not always possible but…

Cut 5 (07)  “…every country”

____________________

Authorities have arrested three people, two brothers and an acquitannce, in the murder of an elderly Zachary woman who was found by her husband bound and shot to death in her home on March 21st. Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says one of the suspects, 24-year-old Adrian Curtis, provided a confession…

Cut 6 (14) “…in the head”

Gautreaux says 74-year-old Frances Jane Schultz had her arms and legs bound by duct tape and duct tape was over her eyes and mouth. She was shot multiple times. The sheriff says one of the suspect’s worked on the couple property’s property bailing hay…

Cut 7 (08) “…home invasion”

Adrian’s brother, Courtland,  and 22-year-old Donevan Brown were also arrested and charged with first-degree murder. They were arrested in East Feliciana Parish. Gautreaux says they began looking for Adrian Courtland, because his name was on a piece of paper inside the home…

Cut 8 (06) “…night of the murder”

_____________________

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Ralph Abraham’s campaign says the Congressman has raised a million dollars in the first hundred days of his campaign to unseat Governor Edwards. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s a crucial fundraising marker to cross, but it still puts the candidate in 3rd place in a three way money race for the mansion…

Cut 9 (11) “…to spend”

Edwards started 2019 with 8.4 million in the bank, and the other Republican in the race, Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone has pledged five million dollars of his own money to the race.

Even though he may be lagging behind his Republican opponent in funding, Pinsonat says the million dollar mark means the Congressman now has the cash on hand to buy enough name recognition statewide to be a serious contender.

Cut 10 (10)“…of you.”

Pinsonat says the best part about pocketing this kind of cash early in the race is that the Congressman can pour it all into boosting his own name, while outside big money organizations tear into his main target, Governor Edwards.

Cut 11 (10)   “in here.”

_____________________________________

Metairie Representative Cameron Henry files a bill that could lead to fines, community service and possibly jail time for anyone who harasses refs, umpires, and other game officials.  Henry says officials at a recreational park in his district are occasionally threatened with physical harm.

Cut 12 (11) “…a little while.”

Henry says it’s not the hecklers or those that might passionately contest a call that are the problem.

Cut 13 (13) “…a missed call.”

Henry says often it is high school and college students working as referees and they are on the receiving end of a parent’s anger.

Cut 14 (11) “…have this conversation.”

03.29.19
by

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU men’s basketball team will attempt to keep its run through the NCAA Tournament going tonight when they face Michigan State. It’s been an emotional year for the Tigers losing their head coach to suspension and of course at the beginning of the season, the fatal shooting of Wayde Sims, who was gunned down just outside of the Southern campus the night before the start of the first practice. Interim head coach Tony Benford says the team has carried Sims memory through the tournament….
cut 8 (12) “….Wayde Sims”
Benford says it will be a game of wills. He says executing in the half court will be a key, can’t turn it over and they need to do a good job on the offensive glass, like they’ve done all season long. Tip off is at 6:09. The winner of this game, will face the winner of the tonight’s game between Duke and Virginia Tech on Sunday.

LSU baseball will look to snap a four-game losing streak tonight when they face second ranked Mississippi State. The Bulldogs held on for a six to five win last night to take game one of the series. Freshman Cole Henry gets the start on the hill. He was brillant last week, but was a tough luck loser in a two to nothing loss. First pitch tonight is just after 6 PM.

La Tech and Southern are the only two college baseball teams from Louisiana playing at home this weekend. The Bulldogs who are coming off a series victory at Middle Tennessee, will host UAB. Matt Miller will start on the mound for Tech tonight as he threw eight innings last week and allowed one run. First pitch is at 6 PM tonight.

The Jaguars lead the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division standings as they are 8-1. Southern faces Prairie View tonight.

LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton is back on the football field for the Tigers. He’s been out almost four months. after undergoing ankle surgery. LSU’s spring game is a week from Saturday.

And La Tech will host Southeastern in football in 2021.

03.29.19
by

10:30 LRN Newscast March 29

Republicans are gearing up for another attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act….
cut 4 (11) “….start over”
That’s US senator John Kennedy who says they failed last time, because they didn’t have another health care plan in place. He says this time they’ll present an alternative to the American people.

Walgreens and CVS have started selling CBD oil in their stores in some states, but not in Louisiana. It’s touted as an anti-inflammatory that can relieve pain, but Doctor Benjamin Springgate at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, says until a better balance of regulation and scientific evidence guarantee the purity of the product, it makes it challenging to recommend CBD to patients….
Cut 15 (08) “…to be forthcoming.”

Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone says he’ll push his business background to the voters as he seeks to unseat Governor John Bel Edwards in this year’s election. Rispone says for decades the state has elected career politicians, yet Louisiana ranks at the bottom for many metrics. He says a businessman has shown that it can result in improved government.
Cut 12 (12) “…their states around.”
Meanwhile, the other Republican in the race, Ralph Abraham has raised over one-million dollars in the first 100 days of his 2019 gubernatorial campaign. Abraham’s campaign spokesperson says it’s a strong sign for the Congressman’s campaign. The Edwards re-election campaign says they are not impressed by that figure.

And tomorrow is an election day for some parts of the state. There are three candidate runoffs for state representative in seven parishes and 42 candidate races and 33 propositions in 30 parishes for the municipal primary.

03.29.19
by

6:45 LRN Sportscast March 29

The LSU basketball team will try to keep its run through the NCAA Tournament going tonight when they face Michigan State in an East Regional semifinal matchup. Many will say the Spartans have the coaching advantage with Tom Izzo, but Tigers interim head coach Tony Benford says he’s ready for the moment….
cut 9 (11) “…in that”
The big matchup to watch tonight is the battle of point guards, Tremont Waters for LSU and Cassius Winston for Michigan State. Winston is averaging almost 19 points and eight assists a game and he’s shooting over 40-percent from three-point range. Tip-off is just after 6 PM tonight.

ULM’s season ended last night as the Warhawks lost to Johnny Jones and the Texas Southern Tigers 108-102 in triple overtime. Michael Ertel had 24 points for ULM, who finished with a 19-and-16 record.

The 17th ranked LSU baseball team lost its fourth straight last night falling to Mississippi State six to five. The Tigers struck out 17 times and Zack Hess got knocked around as he gave up three home runs. LSU falls to 4-3 in the SEC and will look to even up the series tonight at 6 PM, with Cole Henry on the mound.

In other action, McNeese and Southeastern Louisiana begin a tough series on the road. The Cowboys are at Sam Houston State, while the Lions visit Stephen F Austin. Northwestern State is at Houston Baptist, while Nicholls is in Beaumont to take on Lamar.

ULM looks for its first Sun Belt win as the Warhawks visit Georgia Southern, the Ragin Cajuns are at Troy, while Louisiana Tech hosts UAB.

In the NBA, the Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings 121-118 last night as Julius Randle had 34 points and 11 rebounds and Christian Wood added 25 points.

LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton is back on the football field for the Tigers. He’s been out almost four months. after undergoing ankle surgery. LSU’s spring game is a week from Saturday.

03.28.19
by

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The 12th ranked LSU baseball team begins another difficult SEC road series tonight when they meet 2nd ranked Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are 23-3 overall and they’ve scored 53 runs in their last three games. They are led by senior outfielder Jake Mangum, who is hitting over four-hundred. Coach Paul Mainieri says Mangum is one of the best to ever play SEC baseball…
cut 17 (22) “starting pitchers”
Junior left-hander Ethan Small will start for the Bulldogs tonight and the Tigers are having difficulty hitting southpaws as of late.

Last night, Northwestern State doubled up Southern six to three, while ULM crushed Jackson State 10-1 for its second straight win.

The LSU men’s basketball team arrived in Washington D-C last night as the program is getting ready to make its 10th Sweet 16 appearance. The Tigers will meet Michigan State on Fiday in the East Regional semi-finals. The winner advances to play the winner of Duke-Virignia Tech. A good contingent of Tiger fans are expected to be in the Capital One Arena for the game. Secretary for the LSU DC Alumni chapter, Ginger Gibson says she’s looking forward to see more purple and gold in the nation’s capital…
cut 12 (12) “…be Virginia Tech”
Tip time on Friday is at 6:09 PM.

LSU and Florida have become bigger rivals on the football lately, as the scheudling of a football in 2016 because of a hurricane got heated between the two athletic departments. The Gators will return to Tiger Stadium in 2019 and LSU has announced that the homecoming game for next season. That would be October 12th.

03.27.19
by

Revised LRN AM Newscall for March 27

Obamacare individual market enrollment hits it’s lowest level in Louisiana since the option came online in 2014. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

_______________________________________________

Senator John Kennedy says the decision by Cook County prosecutors not to pursue charges against actor Jussie Smollet, who police staged a fake hate crime, is another example of how the rich and famous get to play by a different set of rules…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

_______________________________________________

LSU basketball fans making the trip to Washington DC to see the Purple and Gold face off with Michigan State on Friday will have good company from alumni that already live in the area.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

__________________________________

Obamacare signups are down 15 percent in Louisiana this year, and the 93,000 enrollees mark the lowest level of participants since the individual market came online in 2014.

Enrollment is also down 57 percent from it’s high point in 2016, and Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says that’s because 2016 was the year of the Medicaid expansion.

Cut 4 (12) “…program.”

214,000 enrollees were on the exchange in 2016.

The individual market subsidizes low income earners seeking health insurance, but Donelon says when the Medicaid expansion kicked in, many of those low income individuals qualified  for Medicaid, which is free government insurance.

Cut 5 (12) “…lives.”

Over 500,000 people have enrolled in Medicaid since Governor Edwards accepted the mostly federally funded expansion.

While Donelon puts the bulk of the drop-off on the Medicaid expansion, he does credit the state’s improving economy with putting more workers on employer based health insurance programs.

Cut 6 (11) “…products”

Louisiana had the 3rd highest rate of enrollment drop offs in the nation.

___________________________________________________

Senator John Kennedy is calling on the US Attorney’s Office to pursue action against former Empire star Jussie Smollett for allegedly faking a racially motivated assault against himself. This comes after Cook County prosecutors dropped their charges against the actor.

Kennedy says he’s encouraged by reports that the feds are stepping in where local authorities failed.

Cut 7 (08) “…the law”

The prosecution says the case against Smolett was dismissed after he agreed to a set of conditions, including 16 hours of community service and forfeiting his 10-thousand dollar bond, which means he doesn’t get it back. It’s also been reported prosecutors also took into account that it was a non-violent crime. But Kennedy still disagrees with the decision made by the Cook County state’s Attorney’s office.

Cut 8 (11) “…substantially.”

The Senator says the Smollet case and the college admissions scandal paints a picture that shows the rich, famous, and powerful don’t have to follow the same rules as the average person.

Cut 9 (11) “…get cake.″

__________________________

LSU hoops fans heading to the nation’s capital to see the Tiger take on Michigan State Friday in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament will have a warm welcome from the DC’s LSU Alumni Chapter.  Chapter secretary Ginger Gibson says they are excited to welcome Tiger fans from Louisiana and around the nation.

Cut 10 (10) “…that we’re organizing.”

The game may take place on Friday, but Gibson says the celebration starts tonight at an Irish pub near the venue for the Sweet 16 showdown.  Gibson says it’s tricky to come across Louisiana flair when it’s time to a party in DC.

Cut 11 (12) “…will be played.”

Gibson says while the presence of Tigers fans is noticeable, there are rival teams that are having quite a bit of visibility in the area.

Cut 12 (12) “…be Virginia Tech.”

______________________________

The Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction for the man who fatally shot former Saints player Will Smith in a 2016 traffic dispute. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the opinion of the panel to reject all grounds of the appeal of Cardell Hayes was very thorough.

Cut 13 (09) “…a crime novel.”

The three-judge panel unanimously rejected the appeal. Hayes was sentenced to 25 years in December 2016.  Meche says some of the actions of his legal representation did not help his case.

Cut 14 (12) “…during the trial.”

Meche says the next step would be to appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court, but says Hayes is unlikely to get relief because of a lack of objection from his attorney to the issues being raised.

Cut 15 (11) “…raise certain issues.”

_______________________________________

LSU will need its bats to wake up in Starkville as the Tigers begin a three-game series against Mississippi State tonight. Following the Tigers two-to-nothing loss to McNeese on Tuesday, the team held a players only meeting. Senior third baseman Chris Reid hopes the heartfelt gathering makes guys hungrier…

Cut 16  (22) “this weekend” 

The Bulldogs are 23-3 overall and they’ve scored 53 runs in their last three games. They are led by senior outfielder Jake Mangum, who is hitting over four-hundred. Mainieri says Mangum is one of the best to ever play SEC baseball…

 cut 17 (22)   “starting pitchers” 

Junior right-hander Zack Hess will get the start on the mound for the 12th ranked Tigers. Hess hopes the loss to McNeese is a turning point in their season…

Cut 18 (12)    made of” 

03.27.19
by

2:30 LRN Newscast March 27

Saints Owner Gayle Benson and coach Sean Payton have convinced NFL owners to give coaches the opportunity to challenge pass interference and non-pass interference calls. Heading into the NFL owners meetings, there was resistance in expanding replay use for penalties, but Payton says after some convincing, there was majority support for pass interference calls
Cut 8 (06) “…got it right”
The vote was 31-1 in favor of the rule change. The Bengals were the lone no vote.

Two children were killed and three other kids were airlifted to a Baton Rouge hospital after an overnight night fire in Franklinton. Two adults escaped the blaze uninjured. An investigation is underway into what sparked the fatal fire and State Fire Marshal Butch Brown is asking all residents to have an escape plan in the event of a fire…
cut 5 (10) “…maybe the mailbox”
The two childen who died are a 10-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy.

Seven people have been arrested in an alleged U-Haul insurance fraud scheme that authorities say was led by 42-year-old Hayward Howard and 28-year-old Jasmine Howard. The team allegedly staged two wrecks in Orleans Parish, and then filed claims against Howard’s U-Haul purchased short term insurance. State Police Trooper Monroe Dillon.
Cut 12 (12) “…companies.”
Detectives say in both cases, Hayward Howard drove a rented U-Haul truck into another vehicle.

State Police have released the identity of the man who led authorities on a high speed chase on I-10 that started in East Baton Rouge Parish, then went into Ascension Parish, before ending in E-B-R near the Mississippi River bridge. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says 20-year-old Elias Smallsreed faces numerous charges…
cut 11 (13) “…traffic charges”

03.27.19
by

1:30 LRN Newscast March 27

Two children were killed and three others injured when a mobile home in Washington Parish went up in flames during the overnight hours. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Butch Browning says they are still trying to determine a cause…
cut 4 (13) “…at this point”
Authorities have not released the identity of the victims, but we do know a 10-year-old girl and six year old boy perished in the fire.

Lobbying from the Saints has convinced NFL owners to let coaches challenge pass interference calls and non P-I calls starting next season. New Orleans Coach Sean Payton…
cut 7 (08) “…good about that”
Payton pushed for expanded replay use after the refs failed to call pass interference on the Rams in the NFC title game. The Bengals were the only team to vote against the instant replay change.

20-year-old Elias Smallsreed is locked up following a multi-parish police pursuit on I-10 yesterday that ended in Baton Rouge when the suspect crashed into several cars. State Police spokesperson Tayler Scrantz says the wild episode started when a trooper attempted to make a traffic stop on Smallsreed’s vehicle…
Cut 9 (08) “…into Ascension Parish.”
Scrantz says Smallsreed drove back into E-B-R, where he was finally nabbed near the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge. He faces numerous charges and police believe he was impaired.

The Bipartisan Policy Center has completed an extensive study on the opioid epidemic in Louisiana and how federal funds are used to combat it. Chief medical adviser Anand Parekh says more can be done to address the addiction problem involving prisoners…
cut 15 (10) “….re-entry”

03.27.19
by

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Saints Owner Gayle Benson and head coach Sean Payton have convinced NFL owners to give coaches the opportunity to challenge pass interference and non-pass interference calls. Heading into the NFL owners meetings, there was resistance in expanding replay use for penalties, but Payton says after some convincing, there was majority support for pass interference calls
Cut 8 (06) “…got it right”
The vote was 31-1 in favor of the rule change. So starting next season, Coaches can now challenge questionable pass interference plays until the last two minutes and then it’s subject to a booth review.

For the second time in three games, LSU baseball was shutout. The Tigers fell to McNeese two to nothing last night as the Cowboys scored their two runs on wild pitches. The Tigers managed just four hits and begin a three-game series at Mississippi State on Thursday.

ULM snapped a 10-game losing streak to La Tech with a 9-4 win over the Bulldogs. Frank Colton’s walk off homer gave the Cajuns a seven-six victory over Tulane.

LSU basketball flies out today for Washington D-C where they’ll face Michigan State on Friday night in the Sweet 16. If the Tigers can keep winning in the NCAA Tournament, the national attention will only grow, since they are playing without suspended head coach Will Wade. But Interim Head Coach Tony Benford is not concerned about the spotlight getting brigther…
cut 17 (17) “every day”
LSU is a six point underdog against the Spartans

In other SEC basketball news….Arkansas has fired head coach Mike Anderson after eight years in Fayetteville. Anderson led the Hogs to the NCAA Tournament three times, but this past season they went 18-and-16.

The Pelicans lost to Atlanta Hawks 130-120. Earlier in the day, New Orleans announced that Jrue Holiday will miss the rest of the season after he had surgery to repair a damaged ab muscle.

03.27.19
by

9:30 LRN Newscast March 27

A gubernatorial poll funded by the Ralph Abraham campaign shows John Bel Edwards receiving 44-percent of the vote, followed by Abraham at 33-percent and Eddie Rispone at 10-percent. The Remington Research Group conducted the survey. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Edwards is in decent shape…
cut 9 (10) “…election to him”
13-percent of those poll are undecided.

Lobbying from the Saints has convinced the NFL to let coaches challenge pass interference calls and non P-I calls starting next season. New Orleans Coach Sean Payton…
cut 7 (08) “…good about that”
Payton sought out a change to the rules after the refs failed to call pass interference on the Saints final possession of regulation as they were trying to score a game-winning touchdown.

Two children were killed and three other kids were airlifted to a Baton Rouge hospital after an overnight night fire in Franklinton. Two adults escaped the blaze uninjured. The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating what sparked the fatal fire. The two childen who died are a 10-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy.

Is Almond “milk” actually milk? Matt Doyle talked to one Louisiana lawmaker who’s got a beef with almond advertisers…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”