Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

04.01.19
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6:45 LRN Sportscast April 1

After an SEC title and a march into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, the future of the LSU basketball program is very uncertain. Many believe suspended coach Will Wade has coached his last game at LSU because of the FBI wire tap scandal. Wade has been subpoenaed to testify in a college basketball corruption trial that begins April 22nd. LSU could wait for that trial to end to see if they can keep Wade around, but but Tiger Rag Assistant Editor Tyler Nunez says LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva will likely look to move on…
cut 11 (12) “lawsuit.”
Some of LSU’s top players will likely head to the NBA, because they are talented enough to do so and also NCAA sanctions could be coming.

We’ll see if LSU baseball is back in the Top 10 of the polls after taking two of three from Mississippi State in Starkville. Antoine Duplantis hit two home runs on Saturday as the Tigers took the series with an 11-to-2 win over the Bulldogs. LSU is 6-3 in the SEC, a half game back of Texsas A-and-M for first place in the West.

Louisiana Tech swept UAB this past weekend. The Bulldogs are now 5-4 in Conference USA play after starting 0-3. Logan Bailey was the winning pitcher and Parker Bates drove in four runs.

Nicholls is just a game back of Sam Houston in the Southland Standings after the Colonels swept Lamar in Beaumont, Texas. Nicholls scored five runs in the eighth inning to improve to 8-and-4 in league play. Champ Davison led the way on offense, by driving in two runs.

Southeastern Louisiana’s eight game winning streak ended with a four to two loss to Stephen F Austin. The Lions are 6-3 in the Southland.

ULM has won two in a row after beating Georgia Southern and the Cajuns defeated Troy four to three yesterday.

04.01.19
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6:30 LRN Newscast april 1

We’re a week away from the start of the 2019 legislative session, but LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says there’s one problem…
Cut 7 (09) “…officially”
That’s because there’s a battle between the Edwards administration and House Republican leadership over how much money the state actually has available to spend. House Speaker Taylor Barras has blocked efforts to officially recognize additional revenues.

There’s always a bill in every regular session dealing with cell phone use while driving. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval wants to prohibit the use of handheld cell phones while behind the wheel…
cut 4 (13) “….it’s about safety”
The session begins April eighth.

LSU’s run through the NCAA Tournament ended and now we wait to see what happens with the Tigers basketball program. It’s likely Will Wade has coached his last game, because of the FBI wire tap scandal, but what about the players on this SEC Championship team. Assistant Tiger Rag Editor Tyler Nunez says point guard Tremont Waters and Naz Reid are likely headed to the NBA, and freshman guard Javonte Smart might also leave, since his name has been connected to the purported F-B-I wire tap…
cut 12 (12) “…nukes his career”

03.30.19
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7:30 LRN Sportscast

Louisiana Radio Network Sports, I’m Brooke Thorington…

A memorable LSU basketball season ended last night as Michigan State hit 13 three pointers in an 80-63 victory over the Tigers. Tremont (Tray-mont) Waters had 23 points, but Skylar Mays had just seven points and Javonte Smart was scoreless. Now we wait to see what happens with Will Wade as a result of the FBI wiretap scandal.

Elsewhere… Auburn upset top seeded North Carolina 97-80, while Kentucky got past Houston 62-58. So it will be an all SEC regional final in the Midwest on Sunday.

LSU’s bats busted out of its hitting slump with a solid 10-5 win over second ranked Mississippi State. Chris Reid and C-J Willis each drove in three runs and Cole Henry struck out nine over five innings for his second win of the season. The Tigers can win the series on Saturday at 1 PM when the two teams wrap up their series.

Louisiana Radio Network Sports
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Matt Miller improved to 3-and-0 on the season as Louisiana Tech held on for a three to two win over U-A-B. Braxton Smith earned his fourth save.

In nearby Monroe, Georgia Southern outscored U-L-M nine to eight. The Warhawks had five errors and they fall to 0-and-7 in the Sun Belt. The Ragin Cajuns scored three runs in the first inning, but Troy came back to beat U-L Lafayette five to four.

In the Southland, Southeastern Louisiana got a big win over Stephen F Austin as the Lions won five to one. S-L-U has won seven in a row. McNeese scored three runs in the ninth inning to beat the Bearcats four to three. Brett Whelton’s two run single in the ninth pushed the Pokes past Sam Houston.

Nicholls doubled up Lamar four to two thanks to a big three-run eighth inning. Houston Baptist clobbered Northwestern State 10-to-2. Prairie View pounded Southern 10-6 and Abilene Christian clipped Grambling seven to four.

The Pelicans host Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers tomorrow.

03.29.19
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16:45 LRN Sportscast March 29

LSU and Michigan State tip off tonight just after 6 PM as the two teams battle for a spot in the Elite eight. The Spartans have won 12 of their last 14 and they are led by point guard Cassius Winston. Tonight’s premiere match-up is Winston against LSU point guard Tremont Waters.

LSU will match up against Mississippi State on the baseball diamond tonight. The Bulldogs won game one of the series last night, holding on for six to five win. Zack Hess suffered the loss as he gave up three home runs. Daniel Cabrera hit a two-run blast for LSU. Cole Henry starts on the hill for the Tigers. First pitch is at 6 PM. The final game of the series has been moved up to 1 PM tomorrow, because of the chance of thunderstorms in Starkville on Saturday.

In other college baseball action tonight. the Cajuns are at Troy, ULM hosts Georgia Southern. McNeese visits Sam Houston State, Southeastern is at Stephen F Austin and Louisiana Tech hosts UAB. First pitch is at 6 PM.

A bill has been filed for the regular session that will begin in a little over a week that calls for fines, community service and possibly even a short time in jail for any person that harasses an official at a school or recreation athletic contest. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry says refs and umps, especially those who are in college trying to make some extra money, should not be subject to relentless verbal abuse…
cut 14 (11) “…this conversation”
Metairie Senator Danny Martiny who tried to legalize sports betting in last year’s regular session has filed a similiar bill this year. It has the support of the governor and debate will begin after the session gavels in on April 9th.

The Pelicans got a rare win last night as New Orleans defeated Sacramento 121-118. Only the second win the team’s last 11 contests. Julius Randle led the way with 34 points. There’s just five games left in the regular season. New Orleans will host the dysfunctional Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday at 5 PM.

03.29.19
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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”

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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”  

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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”

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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”

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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.”

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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.”

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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”  

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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”

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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.

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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.″

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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.”

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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.”

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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”