Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

02.24.25
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7:30 LRN Newscast

We are just under 50 days away from the regular legislative session which will begin April 14th. House Insurance Chairman Gabe Firment from Grant Parish says his committee will have a busy agenda….

Cut 7 (08) “…issue to our constituents.”

Firment says this year the priority is auto insurance, in particular the commercial auto insurance sector, where high costs are forcing businesses to park trucks and lay off workers.

During the session, lawmakers will also work on approving a budget for next fiscal year. Governor Landry is proposing 100-million dollars for the new L-A Scholarship program, which is replacing the state’s current voucher program that’s receiving 46-million dollars in state money. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says Landry is proposing not to restore a nine-million dollar cut made to early childhood education last year…

Cut 15 (12) “…test scores”

The Louisiana Travel Association is teaming up with the Louisiana Bed & Breakfast Association to help grow the B&B community. Sean Richardson has more…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan is reportedly moving on after spending just over a year on the job. Reuters is reporting that Sheahan is expected to be named the deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sheahan was 26-years-old when she became LDWF Secretary in 2024 and is known as a skillful political operative.

02.24.25
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6:45 LRN Sportscast

The seventh ranked LSU women’s basketball team rallied from a 16-point first half deficit to beat 14th ranked Kentucky 65 to 58 yesterday. Guard Mikaylah Williams scored 15 of her 24 points in the second half as LSU improved to 27-and-2 overall, 12 and 2 in the SEC. Coach Kim Mulkey believes her team is flying under the radar…

Cut 17 (21) “…tremendous year”

The win was also Mulkey’s 750th win in her 25-year head coaching career, which includes four national championships.

The McNeese men’s basketball team can win an outright Southland Conference regular season championship with a win over U-T-R-G-V tonight at the Legacy Center.

 

The LSU baseball team took two of three from Omaha this weekend. For the second weekend in a row, the Tigers got great starting pitching from Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson and Chase Shores. Eyanson on the relationship among the starters…

Cut 24 (08) “…keep it moving”

LSU will host Nicholls tonight at 6 PM. The Colonels are off to a 5-and-2 start after sweeping Little Rock.

The Ragin Cajuns took two of three from 23rd ranked Nebraska over the weekend. U-L Lafayette swept a doubleheader from the Cornhuskers on Saturday. Andrew Hermann tossed a complete game in the second game of the doubleheader. U-L Lafayette is at McNeese on Tuesday.

The Cowboys are five and one after sweeping Oakland over the weekend.

Louisiana Tech dropped two of three to Southern Miss. Saturday was a good day for Garrison Berkley has he had five hits in the doubleheader.

02.24.25
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6:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana’s oldest death row prisoner, who was set to be executed on March 17th has passed away. 81-year-old Christopher Sepulvado died over the weekend after spending more than 30 years on death row. He was convicted in 1992 in the DeSoto Parish murder of his six-year-old stepson, Wesley Allen Mercer.

Those of you in North Louisiana should dial ten digits for all calls starting today. Andrew Greenstein explains why.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

 

The governor’s proposed budget for next fiscal year does not contain the two-thousand-dollar teacher pay stipend educators received a couple of years ago. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says funding will become available to make that pay increase permanent if voters approve Constitutional Amendment two on March 29th

Cut 13 (11)  “…passing.”

There is a lawsuit filed against Constitutional Amendment Two as plaintiffs claim the amendment is misleading to voters and they claim every teacher will not see that two-thousand dollar permanent pay bump.

The Louisiana Travel Association and the Louisiana Bed & Breakfast Association have teamed up to strengthen and grow the bed and breakfast industry. LTA President Chris Landry says the collaboration aims to increase memberships while also providing valuable resources to help B&Bs

Cut 10 (08) “…Bed and Breakfast Association.”

Landry says L-T-A plans to offer marketing support, educational opportunities, and networking to enhance visibility and attract more visitors.

02.22.25
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7:30 LRN Sportscast

The second-ranked LSU baseball team improved to 5-and-0 yesterday, but for the first time this season, the Tigers did not win in blowout fashion. Offensively, LSU was held to seven hits in a four-to-two win over Omaha.

Cut 16 (12) “…better tomorrow.

That’s head coach Jay Johnson who had to rely on his bullpen to get the win. Connor Benge, Mavrick Rizy and Casan Evans were all terrific in relief. Because of rain in the forecast Sunday, they’ll play a doubleheader today starting at noon. Game two is at 5 PM.

 

The Ragin Cajuns committed four errors in a six-to-one loss to 23rd-ranked Nebraska. Louisiana Tech was held to just one hit in a four-to-nothing loss to Southern Miss. Isaiah Walker’s bases-loaded clearing triple in the eighth inning gave ULM a four-to-one win over Houston Christian.

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In college basketball today…LSU hosts 2nd-ranked Florida at 5 PM. It’s the beginning of a tough stretch of games to conclude the regular season for the Tigers.

ULM has a tough road game today in Jonesboro against Arkansas State. U-L Lafayette is in Hattiesburg to face Southern Miss, and Louisiana Tech is at Western Kentucky for a 7 p.m. tip.

McNeese can clinch a share of the Southland Regular season championship today when the Cowboys host Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi. Tip time is at 4.

Grambling will look to pull off the upset today when they host SWAC leader Southern at 4:30.

The Pelicans returned from the All-Star break last night and lost to Dallas 111 to 103 despite 29 points from Zion Williamson.

The Saints have reportedly hired former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley as their new defensive coordinator. Staley took Los Angeles to the postseason one time in his three years as the head coach of the Chargers. He helped put together a top-ranked defense with the L-A Rams in 2020.

02.21.25
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

New Saints head coach Kellen Moore has reportedly hired former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley as his defensive coordinator. Staley was a head coach for three seasons and brought the Chargers to the playoffs one time. NFL analyst Mike Detillier of WWL radio says having a former head coach on Moore’s staff will be a good resource for the first time head coach…

Cut 14 (11) “…have it”

Staley was an assistant head coach in San Francisco last season and in 2020 he was the defensive coordinator for the Rams and L-A that season had one of the best defenses in the NFL. He also had a couple of future Hall of Famers on that defense in Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.

The Pelicans return to the court tonight after the All-Star break. As they are in Dallas. New Orleans is in last place in the West with a 13 and 42 record.

 

LSU baseball is facing Omaha this weekend in a three game series. Through four games, LSU played 20 different position players and Coach Jay Johnson says his guys are mature about sharing playing time…

Cut 19 (19) “…good”

Because of rain in the forecast on Sunday, LSU will play a doubleheader on Saturday. So will the Ragin Cajuns who are hosting  23rd ranked Nebraska.

In college basketball…LSU hosts 2nd ranked Florida at 5 PM. It’s the beginning of a tough stretch of games to conclude the regular season for the Tigers.

McNeese can clinch a share of the Southland Regular season championship on Saturday when the Cowboys host Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi. Tip time is at 4.

02.21.25
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LRN PM Newscall

As Mardi Gras season ramps up, crawfish prices are going down and expected to keep falling.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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A Bayou Blue man is accused of sexually assaulting several girls. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Crawfish prices continue to decline as Mardi Gras approaches. Co-founder of the Crawfish App, Laney King, says the average price for live crawfish is now $4.10 per pound, while boiled crawfish costs $6.49 per pound. ..

Cut 3 (05) “…drop in price.” 

King says there was not a decrease in prices at the crawfish docks, but more retailers are opening their doors in anticipation of the Lenten season, which is increasing the supply of mudbugs….

Cut 4 (04) “…down this week.”

King says at this time last year, live crawfish were averaging $7.49 a pound, which is almost double to what we are paying this year. She says crawfish prices are are on track to be under three-dollars a pound during the heart of the season….

Cut 5 (09) “…normal crawfish season.”

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A Bayou Blue man is accused of sex crimes, including first-degree rape, against several girls. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says they started investigating a single complaint by the Department of Children and Family Services against 60-year-old Herman Dupre (DOO-pree), and they found several additional victims.

Cut 6 (08) “…reported by DCFS.”

Captain Matherne says these assaults had been going on for quite some time.

Cut 7 (11) “…of these incidents.”

Matherne says Dupre is in the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, and his bond is set at 525-thousand dollars.

Cut 8 (11) “…and simple battery.”

Matherne says investigators believe there are additional victims. Anyone who may have come into contact with Dupre should contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

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New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the city is becoming safer.

Cut 9 (08)  “…26-percent reduction”

During a news conference at police headquarters, Kirkpatrick said all forms of crime are down, including violent crime.

Cut 10 (08) “…decrease in murders.”

In 2022, when New Orleans was known as the murder capital of America, there were 265 murders. In 2023, that number dropped to 192; and last year, it dropped even further to 124. Kirkpatrick said the same downward trend is true for all other forms of crime.

Cut 11 (18) “…of 27-percent.”

Also in the last year, Kirkpatrick said auto theft dropped 50-percent.

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The Saints have reportedly hired former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley as the team’s defensive coordinator. Before he was the head coach of the Chargers, Staley was the defensive coordinator for the Rams in 2020 and NFL analyst Mike Detillier with W-W-L Radio says the Rams had one of the best defensives in the NFL that season…

Cut 12 (11) “…build around.”

Detillier says Staley was the head coach for the Chargers for three seasons from 2021 to 2023, leading L-A to one playoff appearance….

Cut 13 (13)  “…the game.”

Last season Staley was an assistant head coach for the 49ers. Detillier says Staley is only 42-years-old, but has head coaching experience and that should help first-time head coach Kellen Moore, who is just 36-years-old…

Cut 14 (11) “…have it.”

02.21.25
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3:30 LRN Newscast

In 2022, New Orleans was known as the murder capital as the city reported 265 murders. The NOPD investigated fewer homicides in 2023 and Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the number of murders went down again in 2024…

Cut 10 (08) “…in murders”

In 2024 there were 124 murders in New Orleans.

A Bayou Blue man is accused of sex crimes, including first-degree rape, against several girls. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says they started investigating a single complaint by the Department of Children and Family Services against 60-year-old Herman Dupre (DOO-pree), and they found several additional victims.

Cut 6 (08) “…reported by DCFS.”

Captain Matherne says these assaults had been going on for quite some time.

As Mardi Gras season ramps up, crawfish prices are going down and expected to keep falling.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Congressman Clay Higgins have asked President Trump to slap tariffs as high as 100-percent on rice imports from India, Thailand, China, Pakistan and Vietnam. In a letter to the President, the two Republicans from Louisiana says the rice industry contributes 34-billion dollars to the U-S economy, but it’s being displaced by heavily subsidized imported rice.

02.21.25
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1:30 LRN Newscast

A Bayou Blue man is accused of sexually assaulting several girls. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

In 2022, New Orleans was known as the murder capital as the city reported 265 murders. The NOPD investigated fewer homicides in 2023 and Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the number of murders went down again in 2024…

Cut 10 (08) “…in murders”

In 2024 there were 124 murders in New Orleans.

The Saints have reportedly hired Brandon Staley as the team’s defensive coordinator. Kellen Moore was an assistant under Staley when Brandon was the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Staley was the defensive coordinator for the Rams in 2020 and NFL analyst Mike Detillier with W-W-L Radio says the Rams had one of the best defensives in the NFL that season…

Cut 12 (11) “…build around”

Staley was the head coach for the Chargers for three seasons from 2021 to 2023, leading L-A to one playoff appearance. He was fired right before the end of the 2023 season and was an assistant-head coach for the 49ers last season.

The 2024 Louisiana Child Care Parent Poll found that over half of parents worry about affording childcare, with costs averaging 633 dollars a month per child.  Mattilyn Batson at the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children says for those without subsidies, expenses rise to nearly 12 hundred dollars monthly.

Cut 14 (08) “…dollars a year.”

Baston they released this poll in hopes lawmakers will provide more funding to help families pay for childcare.

02.21.25
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11:40 LRN Sportscast

The seventh ranked LSU women’s basketball team rebounded from a tough loss at Texas with a 79 to 63 win over Georgia last night. Jersey Wolfenbarger got more minutes last night as All-American Aneesah Morrow sat out with a minor foot injury. And Wolfenbarger scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. She talked about bouncing back from the loss to Texas…

Cut 20 (09) “…in a lot of ways”

LSU visits 14th ranked Kentucky on Sunday.

The Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball team rallied back from 17 points in the second half to beat Troy 72 to 69. Kentrell Garnett made the winning basket, a fadeaway three with 20 seconds left.

Sean Newman Junior scored 23 points as Louisiana Tech went on the road and beat Middle Tennessee 85 to 74 to even its Conference USA record at 7-and-7. The Bulldogs are at Western Kentucky tomorrow night.

The New Orleans Pelicans return from the All-Star by playing the Mavericks in Dallas.

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LSU is 4-and-0 as it opens a series against Omaha at Alex Box Stadium today. The Tigers showed off their depth in their four victories, playing a bunch of guys, and Coach Jay Johnson says it’s been fun to watch…

Cut 18 (17)  “…this team.”

Louisiana Tech is also 4-and-0 heading into a weekend series at Southern Miss. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs came into the season liking his starting pitching, but the bullpen will be a work in progress…

Cut 17 (17) “…on em”

And the Ragin Cajuns will be hosting 23rd ranked Nebraska this weekend.

02.21.25
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6:45 LRN Sportscast February 20

The seventh ranked LSU women’s basketball team returned to the win column last night with a 79-63 win over Georgia. Flau’Jae Johnson had 21 points, including a 35-footer at the buzzer to end the third quarter.

The Cajuns men’s basketball team got a nice win on the road as U-L Lafayette defeated Troy 72 to 69. Louisiana Tech also a winner on the road… over Middle Tennessee 85 to 74.

A new city has emerged as a candidate for an NHL expansion team – New Orleans. NHL Network analyst – and former NHL goalie – Kevin Weekes says an ownership group had a productive meeting with Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly. Weekes says while the identity of this ownership group is currently unknown, they are hockey people from top to bottom.

Cut 10 (09) “…hockey fans themselves.”

New Orleans joins a long list of cities pursuing NHL expansion teams, including Houston, Atlanta, Quebec City and Phoenix.

No official word from the Saints, but it’s been reported that head coach Kellen Moore has hired Doug Nussmeier as offensive coordinator. Moore and Nussmeier have coached with each other for several years and Nussmeier is the father of LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.

In baseball…LSU begins a series today against Omaha. First pitch at Alex Box is at 4 PM. And the Ragin Cajuns will host 23rd ranked Nebraska. ULM is also home against Houston Christian.

Louisiana Tech baseball is in Hattiesburg this weekend for a three-game series against former Conference USA rival Southern Miss. The Bulldogs opened the season by sweeping a four-game series from Maine. Tech Coach Lane Burroughs likes how well his team played defensively

Cut 16 (16) “…moments”

First pitch is at 4 PM.

 

Southern is mourning the death of Safeties coach Sean Wallace who died of pancreatic cancer. Wallace was also an outstanding player for the Jaguars and is in the school’s athletic hall of fame as he helped Southern win a Black College National Championship in 1993.