1:30 LRN Newscast

A very strong line of thunderstorms is making its way through Louisiana at this hour. The line stretches from southwest to northeast Louisiana and the Alexandria area just experienced some heavy rainfall.

In New Orleans, it’s a Fat Tuesday celebration with heightened security as a result of the New Year’s Day Bourbon Street attack. This woman rode on the Mid-City parade…

Cut 14 (07) “…feels safe”

Twenty-five percent tariffs went into effect on Canada and Mexico today. Economists say the new tariffs could lead to higher prices for American consumers. But President Donald Trump says the tariffs will encourage manufacturing in the United States and force Canada and Mexico to do more to prevent illegal border crossings. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy…

Cut 10 (14) “….Mexico is helping with that”

Mexico and Canada say they will respond with their own tariffs on American products that are imported into their countries.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Bossier Parish will sit directly behind President Trump tonight when he addresses a joint session of Congress. Johnson says the President has a lot to talk about it…

Cut 3 (13) “…much to celebrate.”

Trump’s address to Congress will begin at 8 PM.

Louisiana Tech says its College of Business students now have access to Blomberg Terminals, the same data, software and tools used by the world’s leading business and financial decision makers. Associate Dean Doctor William McCumber says the Bloomberg Terminals allow students to gain hands-on experience with professional level tools…

Cut 8 (08) “…business opportunity”

McCumber says these terminals provide real-time financial data, analytics, and research essential for understanding complex business environments.

12:30 LRN Newscast

A strong line of thunderstorms is making its way through the state today. Monroe and Alexandria are getting the brunt of it at this hour. The Shreveport area saw wind gusts of 60 miles per hour this morning. The rain has yet to arrive in southeast Louisiana but it sure is windy. Louis Armstrong International Airport reported a wind gust of 53 miles per hour. Phil Grigsby is with the National Weather Service in New Orleans…

Cut 4 (13) “…Alabama after that”

Despite the threat of severe weather, the there is some serious partying going on in the New Orleans French Quarter. This woman is having a good time and is not concerned about the weather…

Cut 13 (03) “…Mardi Gras”

Several parades in south Louisiana and

Tonight, President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress. Sean Richardson spoke with a political analyst from LSU on what we can expect to hear.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU is ranked number one in this week’s D-1 baseball poll and the Tigers open up a two-game midweek series against North Dakota State tonight. The Tigers the SEC with 34 doubles and first baseman Jared Jones has six of them. Aaron Fitt from D-1 baseball says he’s expecting a big season from Jones…

Cut 17 (20) “…terrifying prescence”

LSU’s hitters should be able to feast on North Dakota State pitching over the next two days. The Bison have a team ERA of 11.10.

ULM is at third ranked Arkansas this afternoon. Louisiana Tech hosts Nicholls for a midweek series starting at 6 PM. The Colonels have lost five in a row, while the Bulldogs dropped a weekend series to Memphis.

The McNeese men’s basketball team finished off the regular season last night with a 95 to 64 win over Stephen F Austin. Cowboys Coach Will Wade led McNeese to its first win in Nacogdoches in 23 years…

Cut 20 (18) “…the Southland Tournament”

McNeese will be the top seed in the Southland Tournament in Lake Charles.

Northwestern State is the four seed and has a first round bye after beating UIW 73 to 57. Second year Demons head coach Rick Cabrera said on ESPN-plus they finally put two halves together…

Cut 29 (14) “…we did”

Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls both lost yesterday. Grambling lost its third straight, falling to Bethune Cookman 78 to 71.

10:30 LRN Newscast

A very strong line of storms is moving through northwest Louisiana this morning as the entire state could see severe weather on this Fat Tuesday. Parades have been moved up to beat the weather. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s a breezy morning and those winds will pick up….

Cut 15 (05) “…miles per hour”

Much of north and central and the northern part of southwest Louisiana are under a tornado watch until 3 PM this afternoon.

President Donald Trump delivers a primetime address to a joint session of Congress tonight. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says in Trump’s first 44 days in office the President made many changes and is pushing for more and this is his chance to explain why this is the path America should take…

Cut 4 (13) “…a lot of attention.”

The potential for severe storms is not stopping a traditional Mardi Gras celebration in Eunice today. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Ruston has a new police chief. 55-year-old Eric Watson of Shreveport replaces Steve Rogers, who retired last month. Watson is a Louisiana Tech grad who served in the Louisiana National Guard. He was a Ruston police officer in the 1990s before spending 25 years as a drug enforcement agent for the federal government.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Fat Tuesday got off to an early start in New Orleans because of severe weather expected this afternoon. The Krewe of Zulu is already rolling, and the Krewe of Rex has also moved up its start time. The parades are required to complete their routes by 11:30 AM, but NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says they could shut the party down earlier…

Cut 13 (13) “…that point”

Parades are also rolling earlier in Lafayette today. The King Gabriel Parade has been moved up an hour to 9 AM and the Festival Mardi Gras Association Parade will follow immediately after. But Lafayette Police Sergeant Robin Green says…

Cut 11 (09) “….expected to start”

The Independence Parade has been cancelled.

 

Tonight, President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress. Sean Richardson spoke with a political analyst from LSU on what we can expect to hear.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

And we now have a tornado watch posted that covers a large portion of the state until 3 PM this afternoon. Nearly all of north and central and a part of southwest Louisiana are covered in the watch box. That includes the cities of Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria and DeRidder.

7:30 LRN Newscast

It’s an early start to the revelry in New Orleans on this Fat Tuesday because of anticipated severe weather this afternoon. The Krewe of Zulu started rolling before seven o’ clock this morning and Rex is scheduled to roll at 9:30. There are no marching krewes, bands or truck floats, and both routes are shortened. In Jefferson Parish, parades are canceled today, but NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says it was important to have parades in New Orleans.

Cut 12 (10) “…going to try.”

President Donald Trump delivers a primetime address to a joint session of Congress tonight. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says in Trump’s first 44 days in office the President made many changes and is pushing for more and this is his chance to explain why this is the path America should take…

Cut 4 (13) “…a lot of attention.”

If you are looking to attend a traditional Mardi Gras celebration today. Eunice is the place to go. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

State Police have arrested a Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s deputy on allegations of cruelty to a juvenile. Twenty-eight-year-old Matthew Frost of Lafayette was booked yesterday. Authorities say Frost committed cruel actions against a single victim on two separate occasions last June.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU has moved up to number one in D-1 Baseball’s Top 25 ranking. The 11-and-1 Tigers are ranked ahead of Tennessee who is undefeated on the season. D-1 baseball’s Aaron Fitt on why LSU has a slight edge over the defending national champs…

Cut 16 (18) “…LSU rotation.”

And it looks like the Tigers have a lead off man. Freshman left fielder Derek Curiel got on base 21 times in 30 trips during the four games in Texas. Tonight, the Tigers host North Dakota State.

In other action tonight, ULM is at third ranked Arkansas. The Warhawks are coming off a series loss to Missouri State. Louisiana Tech hosts Nicholls for a midweek series starting tonight at 6 PM. The Colonels have lost five in a row, while the Bulldogs dropped a weekend series to Memphis.

The McNeese men’s basketball team finished off the regular season with a resounding 95 to 64 win over Stephen F Austin last night. It was the ninth straight win for the Cowboys, who also snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Lumberjacks. The Pokes will not play again until next Tuesday in the semifinal round of the Southland Tournament.

Nicholls is a three-seed in the Southland Tourney despite last night’s 63-53 loss to Lamar. Northwestern State is a four seed and has a first-round bye. The Demons beat UIW 73 to 57 yesterday as Micah Thomas had 19 points.

Southeastern is a six seed and the Lions lost last night to Texas Rio Grande Valley 77 to 76.

Yesterday as the LHSAA girls basketball tournament, Lakeview, Arcadia, Summerfield, Simpson and Sacred Heart of New Orleans were winners in semifinal action. In Lakeview’s 48 to 44 win over Midland, Timberlyn Washington had 23 points for the Lady Gators.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Many Mardi Gras parades across south Louisiana are starting earlier than scheduled this morning because of high winds and approaching severe weather. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 3 (37) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

There’s an enhanced risk, level three out of five, for severe weather for all of north and central Louisiana today. Baton Rouge and Hammond and much of the north shore are also covered in that enhanced threat. Slight risk for the rest of the state.

It’s a traditional Mardi Gras celebration in Eunice today. The Cajun Mardi Gras festival started last Friday and wraps up today with a parade that pays tribute to the heritage and customs of the Acadian people who settled in southwest Louisiana. Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot says for visitors it’s truly a unique experience.

Cut 7 (08) “…the whole outfit.”

Fontenot says there of course a run where men on horseback will collect the ingredients to make a traditional gumbo.

President Trump will give a speech to a joint session of Congress tonight at 8 PM. A senior administration official says Trump will likely focus on immigration, tariffs, DOGE and DEI. After the President speaks, LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin will give the Democrats response…

Cut 6 (08) “….at the present time”

5:30 LRN Newscast

Severe weather is putting a damper on Mardi Gras parades. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Matt Hemingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says the greatest threat for severe weather tomorrow is all of north and central Louisiana and a part of south Louisiana…

Cut 7 (05) “….south of I-10”

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain met with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollands on how to deal with the effects of bird flu and how to get egg prices under control.

Cut 9 (17)  “…and for poultry.”

Strain says it also might be time to import foreign eggs to help lower prices.

Former LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell ran the 40 yard dash under five seconds and made a vertical jump over 30 inches at the NFL draft combine, which is impressive for the former Neville star. Campbell believes he’s the best offensive tackle in the draft…

Cut 19 (17) “..separates me.”

There are some mock drafts that have the Patriots taking Campbell with the fourth overall pick.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU is the new number one team in D-1 baseball’s Top 25 poll. The Tigers went 4-0 last week in Texas and second baseman Daniel Dickinson is emerging as a star for this team. The transfer from Utah Valley is leading the Tigers with 21 RBIs. Dickinson didn’t have a single scholarship offer from a Division One school coming out of high school in Seattle, but that didn’t stop him…

Cut 18 (14) “…like that’

Dickinson drove in six runs in Friday’s 10-inning win over Kansas State in the Frisco College Baseball Classic.

Tonight…McNeese will take on Stephen F Austin in a game that will be on ESPN-U. Northwestern State will host UIW. Nicholls travels to Lamar,  Southeastern Louisiana visits UTRGV, and Grambling visits Bethune-Cookman.

Former LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell ran the 40 yard dash under five seconds and made a vertical jump over 30 inches at the NFL draft combine, which is impressive for the former Neville star. Campbell was a three-year starter at LSU. In his final 30 games, he allowed only two sacks. Campbell puts his resume up against any of the other tackles…

Cut 19 (17) “..separates me.”

There are some mock drafts that have the Patriots taking Campbell with the fourth overall pick.

The LSU women’s basketball team lost its fourth game of the season yesterday, falling to Ole Miss 85 to 77. The Lady Tigers finish the regular season 27-4, 12-4 in the SEC and they are the three-seed in the SEC tourney which is this week. Flau’Jae Johnson will not play in the conference tournament as she’s out with a shin injury.