16:45 LRN Sportscast August 23

Five LSU players are on the coaches preseason All-SEC team. Third-team selections are defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence and safety Grant Delpit. Offensive lineman Garrett Brumfield is on the second team and first-team selections are cornerback Greedy Williams and linebacker Devin White.

White says the Tigers have the nation’s top defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who has opened up the playbook. Plus, he says the unit is filled with great players…
Cut 18 (13) “…well together”
White has talked with the media about playing a little running back this season, but Coach Ed Orgeron says that will not happen. Coach O also says he doesn’t have a problem playing both scholarship quarterbacks in the season opener against Miami, Joe Burrow and Myles Brennan.

Saints first round pick Marcus Davenport is back practicing in full pads after missing a good portion of training camp because of a groin injury. The rookie defensive end says he’s knocking a lot of rust off and getting his mind right to play…
cut 30 (11) “…kind of stuff”
It remains to be seen if Davenport will play in Saturday’s preseason game versus the Los Angeles Chargers.

The LHSAA has ruled Hahnville quarterback Andrew Robison is ineligible for the upcoming season and the Tigers Head Coach Nick Saltaformaggio has been suspended for the first four games, because of alleged recruiting violations. Robison is a senior, who transferred from Vandebilt Catholic. Several in-state colleges are looking at Robison, who threw for 25-hundred yards and 30 touchdowns last season. The St. Charles Parish School system says they plan to appeal the ruling.

11:40 LRN Sportscast August 23rd

The LSU Tigers enter the season ranked 25th in the AP preseason poll. LSU is usually ranked much higher at the beginning of the season. Defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko, who transferred in from Texas Tech, says the preseason ranking is extra motivation…
Cut 17 (17) “..get out there”
The battle for starting quarterback between Joe Burrow and Brennan Myles remains tight. Coach Ed Orgeron says he has no problem playing both Burrow and Myles in the season opener against Miami.

And LSU has announced they will have a location on the ground level of Tiger Stadium, where fans 21 and older can purchase and drink beer. It’s called “The Chute” and it has TV screens to keep an eye on the game.
The Saints and Chargers have their second and last joint training camp practice today in Costa Mesa, California. Of course Drew Brees started his NFL career in San Diego and Brees says there are no hard feelings with Chargers Quarterback Phillip Rivers…
cut 30 (22) “…we were”
New Orleans and now the Los Angeles Chargers meet in a preseason game on Thursday night.

There’s a great pitching matchup this afternoon in Major League Baseball. Former LSU star Aaron Nola and the Phillies visit the Nationals, who will send 16-game winner Max Scherzer to the mound. Both pitchers are front runners to win the N-L Cy Young Award.

11:30 LRN Newscast August 23rd

Vice President Mike Pence visits the Crescent City this afternoon for a trip to the World War Two Museum and then a fundraising event with House Majority Whip Steve Scalise. This while polls show Republicans in an increasingly perilous positions in key November races. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s a chance for local rich Republicans to help…
Cut 3 (11) “…the country”
And if Republicans can keep control of the House, Scalise has a chance to move up in ranking to House Majority Leader.

The USA Today network reports Vidalia Representative Andy Anders, considered one of the most liked members of the legislature, has been released from intensive care. Anders remains hospitalized in Monroe after suffering a possible heart attack and he’s also batting a blood infection.

Louisiana leads the nation in the number of cases of the serious form of the West Nile virus. 31 people in the Bayou State developed the neuroinvasive disease, which can lead to death, paralysis and brain damage. State epidemiologist, Doctor Raoult Ratard, says it’s a bad year for West Nile and weather conditions are to blame…
cut 11 (09) “…will multiply”
Ratard says residents need to take precautions against mosquito bites.

LaFourche Parish Sheriff deputies have arrested 30-year-old Cody Toups of Thibodaux for allegedly killing a cat with a machete. Lt. Brennan Matherne says the cat belonged to his girlfriend and Toups initially threw the cat in the bayou, but then took the brutal crime a step further…
cut 14 (09) “…with the machete”
Toups has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.

10:30 LRN Newscast August 23

The Louisiana Department of Health is urging residents to take precautions against mosquitoes and the spread of the West Nile Virus. That’s because the state has the most human cases in the country this year with 53, including two deaths. State Epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard says the number of cases can vary from year to year.
Cut 10 (13) “…be fairly high.“
Out of the 53 cases, 31 are neuroinvasive, the more serious form of the disease that can lead to death, paralysis and brain damage.

A member of the Hammond police department has been booked on sexual battery and carnal knowledge of juvenile charges. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office says 44-year-old Brad Core of Hammond surrendered to detectives without incident.

A Thibodaux man has been arrested after he allegedly threw his girlfriend’s cat into a bayou, then killing it with a machete. Matt Doyle has the story.
Voicer 2 (30) ”I’m Matt Doyle”

A task force set up by the Department of Insurance has begun its work on coming up with recommendations that could reduce the state’s high auto insurance rates. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot chairs the task force and says there are state laws that can be changed, which can possibly reduce rates…
cut 5 (08) “…awarding damages”
Insure-dot-com says Louisiana has the second-highest auto insurance rates in the country.

9:30 LRN Newscast August 23

A state task force has begun a series of meetings to develop recommendations that will attempt to lower auto insurance rates. Insure-dot-com says Louisiana has the second highest auto rates in the country and chairman of this new task force, River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says…
cut 6 (11) ” better school”
Talbot says tort reform is one way to reduce rates.

A Thibodaux man is behind bars after he allegedly killed his girlfriend’s cat with a machete. Lt. Brennan Matherne with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office say 30 year old Cody Toups was booked with aggravated cruelty to animals. Matherne says before Toups used a machete, he apparently tried to drown the cat…
Cut 13 (08) “…into the bayou.”
Matherne says the cat was found floating in the bayou.

Louisiana leads the nation with 53 human cases of West Nile. That includes two deaths stemming from the virus. Kevin Barnhart spoke with State epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard.
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The NBC News Affiliate in Monroe reports a former football coach at Sterlington High School who was arrested for allegedly providing alcohol to a minor and also beating up a 16-year-old, is now a teacher at West Monroe High School. Jack Goode pleaded guilty to lesser charges from the April 2017 incident. West Monroe released a statement saying they do not believe Goode’s employment poses a risk to the safety of their students.

8:30 LRN Newscast August 23

A task force set up by the Department of Insurance has begun its work on coming up with recommendations that could reduce the state’s high auto insurance rates. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot chairs the task force and says there are state laws that can be changed, which can possibly reduce rates…
cut 5 (08) “…awarding damages”
According to Insure-dot-com, Louisiana has the second-highest auto insurance rates in the country.

Louisiana leads the nation when it comes to cases of the most serious form of the West Nile Virus. State Epidemiologist Doctor Raoult Ratard says 31 people have developed the neuroinvasive disease, which can lead to death…
cut 12 (06) “…permanent disablility”
Ratard says there have been two deaths this year associated with West Nile, which means residents need to take precautions to minimize the chance of getting biten by a mosquito.

A Thibodaux man has been arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend’s cat with a machete. Lt. Brennan Matherne with the LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, says 30-year-old Cody Toups first grabbed the cat and threw it into Bayou Lafourche. When the girlfriend’s father attempted to save the cat, Toups grabbed a machnete and struck the feline. Matherne has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and faces other charges as well…
cut 15 (10) “…against the girlfriend”
Toups bond has been set at 15-thousand dollars.

Vice President Mike Pence will be in New Orleans this afternoon. Pence will tour the National World War Two Museum and visit with veterans. Afterwards, Pence and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise will host a fundraiser for Republican Congressional members who are in a tough re-election battle. Ticket sales for the event have reportedly been brisk.

7:30 LRN Newscast August 23rd

A task force aimed at tackling Louisiana’s sky high auto insurance rates has begun meeting….
voicer 1 (31) “…Kevin Barnhart”

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff deputies arrested two women after they went door-to-door and said they were raising money for a young girl suffering from leukemia, when it turned out they were allegedly trying to pay for their heroin addiction. 28-year-old Brooke Thibodeaux and 23-year-old Heather Reichert-Jackson of Denham Springs were booked on fraud charges.

Louisiana leads the nation in the number of cases of the serious form of the West Nile virus. 31 people in the Bayou State developed the neuroinvasive disease, which can lead to death, paralysis and brain damage. State epidemiologist, Doctor Raoult Ratard, says it’s a bad year for West Nile and weather conditions are to blame…
cut 11 (09) “…will multiply”
Ratard says residents need to take precautions against mosquito bites.

A nationwide prison strike saw prisoners in 17 states participate in a call for prison reform and an end to prison labor, with reports saying there may have been strike activity in Louisiana as well. People’s Assembly New Orleans Organizer Christina Nesheiwat says these kinds of strikes can take many forms…
Cut 7 (10) “…visitation

6:45 LRN Sportscast

There’s been plenty of off the field news for the LSU Tigers this month. Three players have been suspended because of arrests, two quarterbacks have left the team and suspended cornerback Kristian Fulton’s attempt to get reinstated by the NCAA has been denied. Defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko says despite the distractions, the team remains close…
Cut 16 (19) “…brotherhood”
LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron had his first call-in radio show of the season last night and said he wouldn’t have a problem playing both Joe Burrow and Brennan Myles at quarterback in the season opener against Miami. And Orgeron says there are no plans for linebacker Devin White playing a little running back as well.

Ohio State Football Coach Urban Meyer has apologized for his mishandling of the domestic violence accusations against former assistant coach Zach Smith. Meyer’s missteps has led to a three-game suspension, which means he’ll return to the sidelines when the 5th ranked Buckeyes host Tulane on September 22nd.

The Saints have another joint training camp practice with the Chargers today. The Black and Gold are 17 days away from the regular season opener against Tampa Bay. Quarterback Drew Brees says he’s still developing chemistry with his wide receivers…
cut 30 (21) “…work to do”
The Saints and Chargers will battle in a preseason game on Saturday night.

6:30 LRN Newscast August 23rd

An auto insurance rate task force had its first meeting to address the state’s incredibly high insurance rates. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot is chairing the task force and the panel wants to address the elephant in the room that’s keeping insurance companies away.
Cut 4 (11) “…business here”
Talbot says along with tort reform, legislation designed to prevent distracted driving could help lower rates.

LaFourche Parish Sheriff deputies have arrested 30-year-old Cody Toups of Thibodaux for allegedly killing a cat with a machete. Lt. Brennan Matherne says the cat belonged to his girlfriend and Toups initially threw the cat in the bayou, but then took the brutal crime a step further…
cut 14 (09) “…with the machete”
Toups has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.

The Louisiana Department of Health is urging residents to take precautions against mosquitoes and the spread of the West Nile Virus. This coming on the news the state has the most cases of the virus in the country this year with 53 human cases, including two deaths. State Epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard says the number of cases can vary from year to year.
Cut 10 (13) “…be fairly high.“
Out of the 53 cases reported, 31 of them have been neuroinvasive, which is the more serious form of the disease that can lead to death, paralysis and brain damage.

4:45 LRN Sportscast August 22nd

There are reports former LSU Quarterback Justin McMillan will transfer to Tulane University. McMillan left the Tigers last week, but the school reportedly would not allow him to transfer to any other SEC school or a team that the Tigers will play this season or next year. New NCAA Transfer rules go into effect in October that will prevent teams from blocking student-athletes from transferring to a particular school.

Saints backup quarterback Taysom Hill had four turnovers in last Friday’s preseason game against Arizona. Saints Q-B Drew Brees expects Hill to play better this Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers…
cut 29 (23) “…evolution”
Brees and the Saints had a joint training camp practice with the Chargers today. They’ll do it again tomorrow and then play each other in an exhibition game on Saturday.

Louisiana Tech Footbal Coach Skip Holtz says they had their most spirited practice of fall camp today as his team is getting close to play a real game…
cut 30 (25) “…a successful”
Tech will wrap up camp on Friday and then get ready to play South Alabama in the season opener on September 1st.

A USA Today report alleges former Northwestern State Head Coach and LSU assistant Bradley Dale Peveto gave former Texas A-and-M linebacker Santino Marchiol 700 dollars over the course of two separate occasions to host recruits on unofficial visits. Marchiol transferred to Arizona and is seeking a waiver to play this season, instead of having to sit out.